Stimulated electron transfer inside electroactive biofilm by magnetite for increased performance microbial fuel cell

Inefficient extracellular electron transfer within bioanode leads to low current production by microbial fuel cell (MFC). In this study, magnetite was sprinkled in electroactive biofilm with the aid of magnet field. Magnetite located inside biofilm (interior-doped biofilm) facilitated the electron delivery of electroactive bacteria far away from electrode surface. Electron transfer efficiency was improved by 12% and 37% compared with that of biofilms with magnetite located at the interface of biofilm/electrode (surface-doped biofilm) and that without any magnetite (control biofilm) respectively. The output power density of MFC with interior-doped biofilm (764 ± 32 mW m−2) was greatly increased compared with that of MFCs with surface-doped biofilm (604 ± 22 mW m−2) and control biofilm (475 ± 12 mW m−2). SEM images showed that magnetite evenly distributed inside the interior-doped biofilm and penetrated the electroactive biofilm, which would facilitate extracellular electron transfer across electroactive biofilms and thus improving the bioelectricity production.