Functional study of cover holes for air cathodic protection and retention of cathodic function by ball-shaped cover
Abstract
As the world's electricity consumption increases in proportion to population growth, research on renewable energy sources to replace fossil-fuel-based power generation is underway around the world. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are attracting attention as a renewable energy source that can generate electricity while decomposing pollutants in wastewater. Among these, single-chamber MFCs have low maintenance costs and are suitable for independent operation in outdoor environments. However, the air cathodes widely used in single-chamber MFCs are susceptible to degradation due to moisture. In this study, we proposed a simple method to protect the air cathode from moisture using a spherical frame. The spherical MFC we constructed prevented the inflow of wastewater whilst achieving stable, continuous operation for three months. Compared to an MFC where the cathode was contaminated by wastewater, the proposed spherical MFC exhibited an average output voltage 300 mV higher and a maximum power density approximately 13.9 times greater. The maximum power density of 14.27 μW/cm² is 42% lower than that of floating-type MFCs reported in previous studies, indicating room for improvement. However, as the spherical MFC frame also functions as a protective cover, it can contribute to the manufacture of more practical MFC devices.
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Article Details
Accepted 2026-06-17
Published 2026-09-30