Development and commercialization of alternative energy harnessing and storing devices are most necessarily required in today's world. Progressive increase in consumption of energy by the ever-increasing human population, coupled with depletion in conventional non- renewable energy reserves of the world, demands development of renewable energy production. Fuel cells have projected themselves as prospective renewable energy devices. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a category of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which are comparatively new entities in the field of fuel cell devices. MFCs are unique in such manner that they can produce electricity from industrial and domestic wastewaters while efficiently carry out wastewater purification in the course of this operation; therefore, they can be viewed as dual-utility devices. An MFC often comprises a polymeric ion-exchange membrane as an employed electrolyte. Proper functioning of this membrane is critical toward the overall performance of the cell. Commercial Nafion membranes have found use in majority of the MFC devices reported. However, certain drawbacks of Nafion membranes have recently led to the development of alternative materials for the purpose of fabricating polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs). This review highlights the various PEMs developed so far for application in MFCs.

中文翻译：

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微生物燃料电池聚合物电解质膜的研究进展

在当今世界上，最需要替代能源的利用和存储设备的开发和商业化。随着人口的不断增长，能源消耗的逐步增加，加上世界上常规非可再生能源储备的枯竭，要求发展可再生能源的生产。燃料电池已成为可再生能源的潜在设备。微生物燃料电池（MFCs）代表一类高分子电解质膜燃料电池（PEMFC），是燃料电池设备领域中相对较新的实体。MFC的独特之处在于，它们可以从工业和生活废水中产生电能，同时在此操作过程中有效地进行废水净化；因此，它们可以被视为双重用途的设备。MFC通常包括聚合物离子交换膜作为使用的电解质。该膜的正常功能对于电池的整体性能至关重要。已发现市售的Nafion膜已用于大多数报道的MFC设备中。但是，Nafion膜的某些缺点最近导致了用于制造聚合物电解质膜（PEM）的替代材料的开发。这篇综述重点介绍了迄今为止为在MFC中应用而开发的各种PEM。Nafion膜的某些缺点最近导致了用于制造聚合物电解质膜（PEM）的替代材料的开发。这篇综述重点介绍了迄今为止为在MFC中应用而开发的各种PEM。Nafion膜的某些缺点最近导致了用于制造聚合物电解质膜（PEM）的替代材料的开发。这篇综述重点介绍了迄今为止为在MFC中应用而开发的各种PEM。