Self-biased and sustainable microbial electrohydrogenesis device
US9825321B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 2014 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A hybrid photoelectrochemical and microbial fuel cell device is provided that includes a single-chamber photoelectrochemical device having an n-type TiO2 photoanode and a Pt counter electrode in an aqueous electrolyte solution, and a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by a cation exchange membrane, where the anode chamber includes a carbon anode and microorganisms and the cathode chamber includes Pt-loaded carbon cathode, the carbon anode is electrically connected to the Pt counter electrode, the carbon cathode is electrically connected to the TiO2 photoanode, a light source creates photoexcited electron-hole pairs at the photoanode, the holes oxidize water into oxygen, where dissolved oxygen in the cathode chamber is reduced, the microorganisms oxidize and produce bioelectrons, where the bioelectrons are transferred to the Pt electrode and reduce protons to form hydrogen gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.