The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 2015

Filed:

Jun. 22, 2012
Applicants:

Mary E. Moore, Huntsville, AL (US);

Yolanda Meriah Arias-thode, San Diego, CA (US);

Brett R. Goldsmith, Coronado, CA (US);

Inventors:

Mary E. Moore, Huntsville, AL (US);

Yolanda Meriah Arias-Thode, San Diego, CA (US);

Brett R. Goldsmith, Coronado, CA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M 8/16 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M 8/16 (2013.01); Y02E 60/527 (2013.01);
Abstract

A method for enhancing a microbial environment for a fuel cell can include the initial step of oxidizing the outer surface of the fuel cell anode to establishing reactive chemical functional groups. The anode surface can be oxidized by washing the anode with a solution of 4-carboxybenzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate, followed by washing with acetone, methanol and water. Once the anode surface has been oxidized, the methods can include the step of binding a surface graft matrix to the reactive chemical functional groups (the activated carboxyl groups on the anode surface). EDAC and sulfo-NHS can be used as a surface graft matrix, to bind to the activated carboxyl groups. A biological substance, such as a biological agent or biomolecule, can be chemically attached to the outer terminal reactive groups of the surface graft matrix. The result is a microbial fuel cell with increased power generation and durability properties.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…