Recent Application of Nanomaterials to Overcome Technological Challenges of Microbial Electrolysis Cells
Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have attracted significant interest as sustainable green hydrogen production devices because they utilize the environmentally friendly biocatalytic oxidation of organic wastes and electrochemical proton reduction with the support of relatively lower external power...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/8/1316 |
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| author | Byeongcheol Kim Euntae Yang Bongkyu Kim M. Obaid Jae Kyung Jang Kyu-Jung Chae |
| author_facet | Byeongcheol Kim Euntae Yang Bongkyu Kim M. Obaid Jae Kyung Jang Kyu-Jung Chae |
| author_sort | Byeongcheol Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have attracted significant interest as sustainable green hydrogen production devices because they utilize the environmentally friendly biocatalytic oxidation of organic wastes and electrochemical proton reduction with the support of relatively lower external power compared to that used by water electrolysis. However, the commercialization of MEC technology has stagnated owing to several critical technological challenges. Recently, many attempts have been made to utilize nanomaterials in MECs owing to the unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials originating from their extremely small size (at least <100 nm in one dimension). The extraordinary properties of nanomaterials have provided great clues to overcome the technological hurdles in MECs. Nanomaterials are believed to play a crucial role in the commercialization of MECs. Thus, understanding the technological challenges of MECs, the characteristics of nanomaterials, and the employment of nanomaterials in MECs could be helpful in realizing commercial MEC technologies. Herein, the critical challenges that need to be addressed for MECs are highlighted, and then previous studies that used nanomaterials to overcome the technological difficulties of MECs are reviewed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:31:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a83d7e6924f49dcbca187fe605385a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:31:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a83d7e6924f49dcbca187fe605385a92023-12-01T21:16:49ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912022-04-01128131610.3390/nano12081316Recent Application of Nanomaterials to Overcome Technological Challenges of Microbial Electrolysis CellsByeongcheol Kim0Euntae Yang1Bongkyu Kim2M. Obaid3Jae Kyung Jang4Kyu-Jung Chae5Technology Development Division, Korea Institute for Water Technology Certification (KIWATEC), 20 Gukgasandan-daero 40-gil, Guji-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu 43008, KoreaDepartment of Marine Environmental Engineering, College of Marine Science, Gyeongsang National University, Tongyoung 53064, KoreaDivision of Biotechnology, College of Environmental and Bioresource Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan 54596, KoreaChemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Al-Minya 61111, EgyptEnergy and Environmental Engineering Division, Department of Agricultural Engineering, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, 310 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si 54875, KoreaDepartment of Environmental Engineering, College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, 727 Taejong-ro, Yeongdo-gu, Busan 49112, KoreaMicrobial electrolysis cells (MECs) have attracted significant interest as sustainable green hydrogen production devices because they utilize the environmentally friendly biocatalytic oxidation of organic wastes and electrochemical proton reduction with the support of relatively lower external power compared to that used by water electrolysis. However, the commercialization of MEC technology has stagnated owing to several critical technological challenges. Recently, many attempts have been made to utilize nanomaterials in MECs owing to the unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials originating from their extremely small size (at least <100 nm in one dimension). The extraordinary properties of nanomaterials have provided great clues to overcome the technological hurdles in MECs. Nanomaterials are believed to play a crucial role in the commercialization of MECs. Thus, understanding the technological challenges of MECs, the characteristics of nanomaterials, and the employment of nanomaterials in MECs could be helpful in realizing commercial MEC technologies. Herein, the critical challenges that need to be addressed for MECs are highlighted, and then previous studies that used nanomaterials to overcome the technological difficulties of MECs are reviewed.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/8/1316hydrogenmicrobial electrolysis cellsnanomaterials |
| spellingShingle | Byeongcheol Kim Euntae Yang Bongkyu Kim M. Obaid Jae Kyung Jang Kyu-Jung Chae Recent Application of Nanomaterials to Overcome Technological Challenges of Microbial Electrolysis Cells Nanomaterials hydrogen microbial electrolysis cells nanomaterials |
| title | Recent Application of Nanomaterials to Overcome Technological Challenges of Microbial Electrolysis Cells |
| title_full | Recent Application of Nanomaterials to Overcome Technological Challenges of Microbial Electrolysis Cells |
| title_fullStr | Recent Application of Nanomaterials to Overcome Technological Challenges of Microbial Electrolysis Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Application of Nanomaterials to Overcome Technological Challenges of Microbial Electrolysis Cells |
| title_short | Recent Application of Nanomaterials to Overcome Technological Challenges of Microbial Electrolysis Cells |
| title_sort | recent application of nanomaterials to overcome technological challenges of microbial electrolysis cells |
| topic | hydrogen microbial electrolysis cells nanomaterials |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/8/1316 |
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