Revolutionizing energy storage: Anode improvement in microbial fuel cells for enhanced electron transport

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising bioelectrochemical technology that may concurrently produce renewable electricity and remediate wastewater. Nonetheless, its actual implementation is limited by poor power density and ineffective electron transport at the anode. Recent advancements in anode modification incorporating nanostructured carbon materials, conductive polymers, transition metal oxides, and biofilm engineering have markedly improved surface area, conductivity, and biocompatibility, thus enhancing microbial adhesion and extracellular electron transfer (EET). These enhancements not only increase power production but also enable energy storage when MFCs are combined with capacitors or supercapacitive anodes. Enhanced anodes with elevated capacitance can accumulate excess electrons produced by microbial metabolism, facilitating energy storage, stabilizing power variations, and delivering brief flows of high current for practical uses. This review article offers an extensive examination of current developments in anode materials and structural modifications aimed at transforming energy storage capacity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by improving electron transport pathways. Future outlooks highlight scalable manufacturing, economical biomass-based electrode materials, and enhanced integration of capacitive elements to expedite commercial implementation.