Microbial Batteries with Re-oxidizable Solid-State Electrodes for Conversion of Chemical Potential Energy into Electrical Energy

摘要

A microbial battery is provided. At the anode, microbial activity provides electrons to an external circuit. The cathode is a solid state composition capable of receiving the electrons from the external circuit and changing from an oxidized cathode composition to a reduced cathode composition. Thus, no external source of oxygen is needed at the cathode, unlike conventional microbial fuel cells. The cathode can be removed from the microbial battery, re-oxidized in a separate oxidation process, and then replaced in the microbial battery. This regeneration of the cathode amounts to recharging the microbial battery.

主权项

1. A microbial battery comprising:
an anode configured such that microbial activity at the anode provides electrons to an external circuit; a cathode configured to receive the electrons from the external circuit and change its composition from an oxidized cathode composition to a reduced cathode composition; and a reaction chamber, wherein the anode and the cathode are disposed in an aqueous solution in the reaction chamber; wherein the cathode is configured such that it can be changed from the reduced cathode composition to the oxidized cathode composition in a separate oxidation process outside the microbial battery.