CARBON NANOFIBER WIRING STRUCTURE WITHIN A MICROBIAL FUEL CELL DEVICE
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Authors
Marshall, Analise M.
Subjects
microbial fuel cell
benthic microbial fuel cell
microfluidics
microelectrode
benthic microbial fuel cell
microfluidics
microelectrode
Advisors
Kartalov, Emil P.
Date of Issue
2023-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The Navy 30-year Science and Technology Strategic Plan heavily emphasizes investment in unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). These assets are becoming strategically significant and essential within the realm of undersea warfare. This proposed project aims to continue the development of biofuel cells, which are critical for the logistics of undersea assets. Biofuel cells would provide a robust, resilient distributed network of renewable-power stations. The alternatives for an undersea warfare power source are batteries, which would deplete quickly, or the use of capital ships which would be an inefficient use of key assets. Benthic bacteria are known to produce electrons as waste which can be harvested for remote power. These organisms are naturally occurring in marine sediment and are effectively self-sustaining in the devices in which they are exploited. Previous proof of concept work has shown a two-dimensional H-fractal architecture to produce on the order of 80 milliwatts per meter squared, four times the amount of previous benthic microfluidic designs. The two-dimensional design serves as the groundwork for scalable three-dimensional units. Scaling to three-dimensions offers a path to strategically placed power cubes in an ocean environment, but not without manufacturing hurdles. Thesis work will include solving known problems in 3D printing to create stackable biofuel cells and will seek to prove superior power density within the existing channel designs.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Physics (PH)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA, 22203
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.