In recent years novel applications of bioelectrochemical systems are exemplified by phototrophic biocathodes, biocompatible enzymatic fuel cells and biodegradable microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Herein, transparent silk fibroin membranes (SFM) with various fibroin content (2%, 4% and 8%) were synthesised and employed as separators in MFCs and compared with standard cation exchange membranes (CEM) as a control. The highest real-time power performance of thin-film SFM was reached by 2%-SFM separators: 25.7 ± 7.4 μW, which corresponds to 68% of the performance of the CEM separators (37.7 ± 3.1 μW). Similarly, 2%-SFM revealed the highest coulombic efficiency of 6.65 ± 1.90%, 74% of the CEM efficiency. Current for 2%-SFM reached 0.25 ± 0.03 mA (86% of CEM control). Decrease of power output was observed after 23 days for 8% and 4% and was a consequence of deterioration of SFMs, determined by physical, chemical and biological studies. This is the first time that economical and transparent silk fibroin polymers were successfully employed in MFCs.

Regenerated silk fibroin membranes as separators for transparent microbial fuel cells / Pasternak, Grzegorz Lukasz; Yang, Yuejiao; Santos, Bruno Bosquiroli; Brunello, Federico; Hanczyc, Martin M.; Motta, Antonella. - In: BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY. - ISSN 1567-5394. - ELETTRONICO. - 126:(2019), pp. 146-155. [10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.12.004]

Regenerated silk fibroin membranes as separators for transparent microbial fuel cells

Pasternak, Grzegorz Lukasz;Yang, Yuejiao;Hanczyc, Martin M.;Motta, Antonella
2019-01-01

Abstract

In recent years novel applications of bioelectrochemical systems are exemplified by phototrophic biocathodes, biocompatible enzymatic fuel cells and biodegradable microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Herein, transparent silk fibroin membranes (SFM) with various fibroin content (2%, 4% and 8%) were synthesised and employed as separators in MFCs and compared with standard cation exchange membranes (CEM) as a control. The highest real-time power performance of thin-film SFM was reached by 2%-SFM separators: 25.7 ± 7.4 μW, which corresponds to 68% of the performance of the CEM separators (37.7 ± 3.1 μW). Similarly, 2%-SFM revealed the highest coulombic efficiency of 6.65 ± 1.90%, 74% of the CEM efficiency. Current for 2%-SFM reached 0.25 ± 0.03 mA (86% of CEM control). Decrease of power output was observed after 23 days for 8% and 4% and was a consequence of deterioration of SFMs, determined by physical, chemical and biological studies. This is the first time that economical and transparent silk fibroin polymers were successfully employed in MFCs.
2019
Pasternak, Grzegorz Lukasz; Yang, Yuejiao; Santos, Bruno Bosquiroli; Brunello, Federico; Hanczyc, Martin M.; Motta, Antonella
Regenerated silk fibroin membranes as separators for transparent microbial fuel cells / Pasternak, Grzegorz Lukasz; Yang, Yuejiao; Santos, Bruno Bosquiroli; Brunello, Federico; Hanczyc, Martin M.; Motta, Antonella. - In: BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY. - ISSN 1567-5394. - ELETTRONICO. - 126:(2019), pp. 146-155. [10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.12.004]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1-s2.0-S1567539418304687-main.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (Publisher’s layout)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 2.4 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.4 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
VQR-Pasternak.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Versione non-referred
Tipologia: Pre-print non referato (Non-refereed preprint)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 2.48 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.48 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/229942
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 6
  • Scopus 31
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 22
  • OpenAlex ND
social impact