Polyaniline/Carbon Nanotube‐Modified Carbon Felt for Accelerating Underwater Microbial Gas Production to Enhance Power Generation

Carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polyaniline were supported on carbon felt by the dip-coating method and in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The modified carbon felt can effectively accelerate the electron transfer between bacteria, accelerate the gas production of anaerobic fermentation, and provide a sufficient source of bubbles for the underwater energy bubble collection system.

Abstract

Harvesting energy from bubbles produced by seafloor microorganisms to power underwater devices is a promising method. However, the slow gas production rate under natural conditions hinders the practical application of this technology. Herein, we synthesized polyaniline/carboxyl multiwalled carbon nanotube/carbon felt (PANI/c-MWCNT/CF) by dip-coating and in-situ chemical polymerization for accelerating gas production rate from underwater anaerobic digestion. The optimal WNCNTS addition dosage in modified CF was determined to be 0.5 g/L. Compared with the control group, the PANI/c-MWCNT/CF improved the gas production yield and rate by 48% and 59%, respectively. Furthermore, after seven days of continuous experiments, the high gas production rate was maintained, demonstrating that the PANI/c-MWCNT/CF is durable and stable. This study supplies enough gas for the underwater bubble energy harvester, removing environmental constraints on subsea in-situ power generation and opening up a broad prospect for the power supply to underwater equipment.

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