Performance Evaluation of Carbon Felt-Based Plant Microbial Fuel Cells Using Different Soil Types for Low-Power Energy Harvesting

Abstract

Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFCs) have emerged as a promising renewable energy technology capable of generating electricity through the interaction between plant roots and soil microorganisms. However, their relatively low electrical output limits their practical application in powering low-power electronic devices. This study investigated the influence of different soil types on the electrical performance of soil-based PMFCs using carbon felt as both the anode and cathode. Two PMFC configurations were constructed using paddy soil and organic soil, and their performance was evaluated based on open-circuit voltage and power output over a six-day observation period. The results showed that both configurations successfully generated electrical energy through plant–microbial interactions. The paddy soil configuration achieved a higher maximum power output of 0.0372 µW, while the organic soil configuration produced a maximum of 0.0212 µW. These findings demonstrate that soil type influences the electrical performance of PMFC systems when the electrode material is kept constant. Although the generated power remains relatively low, the study confirms the potential of PMFC technology as a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and low-cost energy source for future low-power Internet of Things monitoring applications.