Polypyrrole modified stainless steel as high performance anode of microbial fuel cell

Stainless steel (SS) is regarded as an eligible anode material in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), owing to its low cost and high mechanical strength. However, its poor biocompatibility and low corrosion resistance still limited its further application. Here we reported a unique-structural SS-based anode for high-performance MFC5 by in-situ electrochemical depositing polypyrrole (PPy) onto SS (PPy/SS). By PPy modification, the corrosion resistance and the power generation performance of the anode can be significantly improved. The maximum power density of MFCs with PPy/SS anode reached a value of 1190.94 mW m(-2), which was about 29 times higher than that with bare SS anode. In addition, the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic-voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) characterizations showed that the MFC with PPy/SS anode had lower internal resistance and higher capacitance than that with bare SS anode. These ensured the PPy/SS improved corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, power density and made it a promising anode material for MFCs. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.