Recent advances in powering microbial electrolysis cells for sustainable hydrogen production

초록

Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have become increasingly attractive because they can produce hydrogen (H2) from a variety of organic sources with significantly lower electrical requirements than traditional water electrolysis. However, the electrical power requirement is one of the main factors that reduces the sustainability and widespread application of this MEC technology. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in reducing and eliminating the electricity power demand of MECs for sustainable H2 production. The fundamental principles of MEC operation, especially how to apply and control external voltage to MECs, are discussed. Furthermore, this review critically examines different strategies for coupling MECs with renewable energy harvesting technologies to achieve self-sustainable H2 production, highlighting the thermodynamic advantages and practical feasibility of these integrated systems. Finally, the perspectives on future research directions are provided with the aim of realizing the widespread application of renewable energy-powered MECs for environmentally benign H2 production.

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