Enhancing Electron Transfer Efficiency in Microbial Fuel Cells Through Gold Nanoparticle Modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

This study investigates microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance through the modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and polypyrrole (PPy). The yeast/AuNP-modified electrodes generated the highest median current of 2.57 nA, significantly outperforming the yeast/PPy-modified (0.82 nA) electrodes. Power density measurements further confirmed the superior performance of the yeast/AuNP-modified electrodes, showcasing a notable improvement in current densities and power outputs. Yeast/AuNP-modified graphite electrodes produced a higher power density of 22.8 mW/m2, while exhibiting a lower current density compared to electrodes modified solely with yeast, which achieved a power density of 5.7 mW/m2. These findings highlight the potential of AuNPs in significantly enhancing the electrochemical performance of yeast-based MFCs, providing a promising approach for the development of more efficient bioelectrochemical systems.