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Open research questions in Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

141 gap statements mined from Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 1,254 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The gap is the dependence on intricate structural hybridization limiting interfacial electron transfer. The gap is the low efficiency of natural photosynthesis and artificial photosynthetic systems.

    Enhanced Biophotocatalytic Performance via Photoinduced Interfacial Charge Transfer in MIP-208/E. coli Hybrids · 2026 · DOI

  • The energy output of MFCs remains insufficient to effectively power sensing devices. Large-scale wastewater treatment cannot be expanded effectively due to the low power output of MFCs. The specific capital, operating, and maintenance costs of MFCs at a larger scale have not been clearly defined.

    Electron transfer mechanism in microbial fuel cells · 2026 · DOI

  • The efficiency and scalability of microbial fuel cells are influenced by electron transfer mechanisms. Challenges related to commercialization, cost-effectiveness, system durability, and large-scale implementation need to be addressed.

    Electron transfer mechanism in microbial fuel cells · 2026 · DOI

  • Unfortunately, there are still several technical, biological, economic, and regulatory challenges that limit large-scale application of EF engineering. First, the simultaneous removal of multiple metals at low concentrations remains technically challenging due to competitive interactions and fluctuating redox conditions.

    Electro-fermentation and its Engineering for Heavy Metal Removal From Mining Wastewater: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Perspectives · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to investigate the performance of rice straw-derived substrates with different levels of complexity.

    Waste to energy through sustainable bioenergy and biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic waste using microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell · 2026 · DOI

  • Future work is needed to improve the stability of the heme groups during the coupling reaction and to enhance the recovery yield in redox cycles. Additionally, Fig. Thermal stability analysis of cytochrome nanowires by SRCD spectroscopy. The top panel shows the temperature ramp between 5 °C and 87 °C, while the melting curve at 186 nm is presented in the bottom panel.

    Synthesis and biophysical characterization of bioengineered cytochrome nanowires · 2026 · DOI

  • Future reactor design should prioritize structured spatial separation of functional zones. Besides the double chamber configuration, another possible direction is a modular multi-stage BES, which also enables targeted replacement or maintenance of individual stages without disrupting the entire system.

    Advancements and Challenges in Bioelectrochemical Systems for Sustainable Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective anode materials that can provide high electrical conductivity, sufficient accessible surface area, and good biocompatibility.

    A CF/MXene/FeS Composite Anode for Enhanced Power Generation and Charge Storage in Microbial Fuel Cells · 2026 · DOI

  • The bio-battery's efficiency and electrical power production need to be increased. The use of fossil fuels harms the environment and depletes resources. The development of alternative energy sources that are environmentally friendly, sustainable, and easily accessible is an urgent need.

    A Study on the Potential of Natural Liquid Electrolytes from Lime Peel, Starfruit, and White Vinegar for Renewable Energy Bio-Batteries · 2026 · DOI

  • Additional tweaking is required to increase the bio battery's efficiency and electrical power production. Future research can focus on improving the bio-battery's efficiency and electrical power production.

    A Study on the Potential of Natural Liquid Electrolytes from Lime Peel, Starfruit, and White Vinegar for Renewable Energy Bio-Batteries · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited reports on the exploitation of immobilized bacterial cell systems for treating real industrial wastewaters. A need for continued research and development to meet wastewater discharge standards and treat emerging contaminants. A gap in selecting suitable support matrices and immobilization methods for large-scale applications.

    Immobilized bacterial cell technology for sustainable industrial wastewater treatment: a review · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies can explore the use of other types of agricultural waste as sources of raw materials. The development of other functional carbon materials from secondary biological resources can be investigated.

    COBALT-, NICKEL OXIDES-DOPED ACTIVATED CARBONS FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTE: SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE AND ELECTROANALYTICAL APPLICATION · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for affordable and cost-effective sources of raw materials for producing activated carbon. The lack of development of activated carbons from agricultural waste and their modification with transition metal ions.

    COBALT-, NICKEL OXIDES-DOPED ACTIVATED CARBONS FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTE: SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE AND ELECTROANALYTICAL APPLICATION · 2026 · DOI

  • The study suggests future research directions, including the development of nanomaterial-doped hydrogels and electro fermentation applications. The study highlights the importance of international collaboration in advancing research in the field.

    Conductive Hydrogels and Biofilm in Microbial Fuel Cells: Scientific Mapping and Research Evolution (2010–2024) · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the field of microbial fuel cells, including limited methodological standardization and comparability across studies. The study highlights the need for advanced materials to enhance electron transfer between microorganisms and electrodes.

    Conductive Hydrogels and Biofilm in Microbial Fuel Cells: Scientific Mapping and Research Evolution (2010–2024) · 2026 · DOI

  • Microbial artificial photosynthesis offers a promising strategy for light‐driven biomanufacturing, yet its efficiency remains limited by the non‐selective conversion of photogenerated electrons into metabolically usable reducing power, causing energy dissipation and weak coupling between light capture and metabolic reactions.

    Defining Rational Photoelectron Routing for Targeted Intracellular Energy Transfer · 2026 · DOI

  • While the present study demonstrates the technical advantages of hypochlorite-assisted MFCs, several considerations must be addressed to advance their practical applicability.

    Cathodic Electron Acceptor Governs Energy Recovery and Methylene Blue Dye Decolorization in Microbial Fuel Cells · 2026 · DOI

  • The mechanism underlying the interplay between enzymatic activity and redox-active metals remains a major scientific challenge. The assumption that oxidative decomposition is maximized under fully oxic conditions has not been thoroughly tested.

    Synergy between reactive manganese species and enzymes drives litter decomposition hotspots · 2026 · DOI

  • Enhancement Strategies Collectively, these technologies demonstrate that a consistent challenge, namely, how to transfer the pollutants to active catalysts, how to control the biological activity, how to respond to the variable emissions, and how to treat the hydrophobic or inhibitive compounds, has been a central focus of the development of biological VOC treatment.

    From Biofilters to Biocatalysts: Advances in Biological Treatment of VOCs in Atmospheric Environments · 2026 · DOI

  • Need for sustainable technologies for aquaculture waste management.

    Purple sulfur bacteria convert aquaculture waste into antioxidant-rich single-cell protein through biofloc technology · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for novel approaches to advance circular bioeconomy principles in aquatic food systems.

    Purple sulfur bacteria convert aquaculture waste into antioxidant-rich single-cell protein through biofloc technology · 2026 · DOI

  • The use of microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells can be limited by the availability of suitable substrates.

    Waste to energy through sustainable bioenergy and biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic waste using microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell · 2026 · DOI

  • CDI's performance is often limited by co-ion expulsion, incomplete pore utilisation, and reduced charge efficiency, particularly under high-salinity or multi-ionic conditions. Competing ORR pathways, hydrogen evolution, and carbon corrosion under acidic and oxidative conditions reduce energy efficiency and electrode lifespan.

    Modified carbon electrodes as multifunctional platforms for next-generation water and wastewater treatment · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigating the long-term stability of the CF/MXene/FeS anode, - Examining the performance of the CF/MXene/FeS anode in different MFC configurations, - Optimizing the composition and structure of the CF/MXene/FeS anode for improved…

    A CF/MXene/FeS Composite Anode for Enhanced Power Generation and Charge Storage in Microbial Fuel Cells · 2026 · DOI

  • Continued research and development are required for the treatment of emerging contaminants and to meet the wastewater discharge standards - Novel matrices with modifications which are tailored for real wastewater treatment systems and allow isolation of value-added…

    Immobilized bacterial cell technology for sustainable industrial wastewater treatment: a review · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a need to investigate the performance of rice straw-derived substrates with different levels of complexity (“Waste to energy through sustainable bioenergy and biohydrogen production from…”, 2026); (2) Future work is needed to improve the stability of the heme groups during the coupling reaction and to enhance the recovery yield in redox cycles (“Synthesis and biophysical characterization of bioengineered cytochrome nanowires”, 2026); (3) The lack of effective anode materials that can provide high electrical conductivity, sufficient accessible surface area, and good biocompatibility (“A CF/MXene/FeS Composite Anode for Enhanced Power Generation and Charge Storage…”, 2026); (4) Future research can focus on improving the bio-battery's efficiency and electrical power production (“A Study on the Potential of Natural Liquid Electrolytes from Lime Peel,…”, 2026); (5) The lack of development of activated carbons from agricultural waste and their modification with transition metal ions (“COBALT-, NICKEL OXIDES-DOPED ACTIVATED CARBONS FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTE:…”, 2026). 141 gap statements have been mined from Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 1,254 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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