Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Microbial Fuel Cells: A Review

Development and commercialization of alternative energy harnessing and storing devices are most necessarily required in today's world. Progressive increase in consumption of energy by the ever-increasing human population, coupled with depletion in conventional non- renewable energy reserves of the world, demands development of renewable energy production. Fuel cells have projected themselves as prospective renewable energy devices. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a category of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which are comparatively new entities in the field of fuel cell devices. MFCs are unique in such manner that they can produce electricity from industrial and domestic wastewaters while efficiently carry out wastewater purification in the course of this operation; therefore, they can be viewed as dual-utility devices. An MFC often comprises a polymeric ion-exchange membrane as an employed electrolyte. Proper functioning of this membrane is critical toward the overall performance of the cell. Commercial Nafion membranes have found use in majority of the MFC devices reported. However, certain drawbacks of Nafion membranes have recently led to the development of alternative materials for the purpose of fabricating polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs). This review highlights the various PEMs developed so far for application in MFCs.