A paper-based microbial fuel cell: instant battery for disposable diagnostic devices

Arwa Fraiwan; Sayantika Mukherjee; Steven Sundermier; Hyung-Sool Lee; Seokheun Choi

doi:10.1016/j.bios.2013.06.001

A paper-based microbial fuel cell: instant battery for disposable diagnostic devices

Biosens Bioelectron. 2013 Nov 15:49:410-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2013.06.001. Epub 2013 Jun 7.

Authors

Arwa Fraiwan¹, Sayantika Mukherjee, Steven Sundermier, Hyung-Sool Lee, Seokheun Choi

Affiliation

¹ Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, State University of New York-Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.

PMID: 23807233
DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2013.06.001

Abstract

We present a microfabricated paper-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) generating a maximum power of 5.5 μW/cm(2). The MFC features (1) a paper-based proton exchange membrane by infiltrating sulfonated sodium polystyrene sulfonate and (2) micro-fabricated paper chambers by patterning hydrophobic barriers of photoresist. Once inoculum and catholyte were added to the MFC, a current of 74 μA was generated immediately. This paper-based MFC has the advantages of ease of use, low production cost, and high portability. The voltage produced was increased by 1.9 × when two MFC devices were stacked in series, while operating lifetime was significantly enhanced in parallel.

Keywords: Microbial fuel cell; Microfabrication; Paper-based battery; Series/parallel connection.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources* / economics
Bioelectric Energy Sources* / microbiology
Disposable Equipment* / economics
Disposable Equipment* / microbiology
Electricity
Equipment Design
Paper*
Polystyrenes / chemistry
Shewanella / physiology

Substances

Polystyrenes
polystyrene sulfonic acid