Performance Enhancement of Microbial Fuel Cells Using Carbon Nanoparticles Produced by Laser Ablation

Abstract Pulse Laser Ablation in Liquid (PLAL) was used to prepare carbon nanoparticles by using a carbon target immersed in deionized water (DW). Then, the target was irradiated with the first harmonic of an Nd: YAG laser, which has a wavelength of 1064 nm and a 6 ns pulse duration, and then the laser beam was focused on the target surface. The composite particles were studied to explore the effect of laser pulse energy on the size. Varying incident intensities 500 mJ, 1000 mJ give particle sizes from 52.09 nm to 26.49 nm, respectively. An atomic force microscope (AFM), pH meter, and electrical conduction (EC) testing of nanoscale solutions were included in the nanoparticle characterisation, with special attention to (1000) mJ laser pulse power level producing the smallest particle size. The nano-colloidal salt bridge prepared using the nano-colloids was used for the H-shape microbial fuel cell (MFC), whose performance was then tested. This study indicates that the Co NPs prepared with a mean pulse laser energy of 1000 mJ should bridge an electrolyte, which is a catalyst for increased output MFCs.