Development of Electrospun Biodegradable Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO)/P3HB4HB Composite Nanofibrous Membranes for Enhanced Microbial Fuel Cell Performance

ABSTRACT Emerging bioelectrochemical platforms called microbial fuel cells (MFCs) allow for the simultaneous treatment of wastewater and the production of sustainable electricity. By enabling effective proton transport between the anode and cathode compartments, the proton exchange membrane plays a crucial role in controlling overall performance in these systems. In this work, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was incorporated into biodegradable electrospun membranes based on poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB4HB) and examined as potential proton exchange materials. The membranes that were created were used in MFCs to treat wastewater that came from solid animal manure. A comprehensive study was carried out to evaluate their morphological characteristics, water absorption behavior, and proton conductivity. The rGO‐doped electrospun nanofiber membranes exhibited a high surface area, facilitating rapid mass transport and early electrochemical activity, while exhibiting excessive prolonged operational durability. Notably, the optimized membrane containing 7 wt% rGO achieved an open‐circuit voltage of 595 mV, approximately 15% higher than that of the commercial Tion5‐W membrane, along with enhanced power and current densities. These findings underline the importance of membrane architecture in improving MFC performance and demonstrate the potential of biodegradable, eco‐friendly electrospun membranes for sustainable energy recovery from wastewater.