Ricerc@Sapienza

In this paper, different self-made membranes based on polyethersulfone (PES) with sulfonated nano-Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-SO3H) were tested in H-Type Microbial Fuel Cell system. The nanomaterials were characterized by FTIR, SEM, TEM and TGA, while the nanocomposite membranes by tensile tests, TGA, SEM, and profilometry. The presence of sulfonic groups (-SO3H) within the polymer matrix allowed a better dispersion of nanoparticles and prevented oxygen permeation from the cathodic compartment.

In this study, nanocomposites based on polyethersulfone (PES) with different amounts of Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized, to be used as proton exchange membranes in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). Such new low-cost separators were fabricated by melt blending and tested in an MFC system.