Aloe vera-derived N-doped carbon dots as efficient mediators for coupled biohydrogen and bioelectricity generation

Manidipa Roy; Poulami Sarkar; Soumyajit Chandra; S. Shankara Narayanan; Ishita Maji; Srijoni Banerjee; Soumya Pandit

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.156282

Aloe vera-derived N-doped carbon dots as efficient mediators for coupled biohydrogen and bioelectricity generation

Manidipa Roy
, Poulami Sarkar
, Soumyajit Chandra
, S. Shankara Narayanan
, Ishita Maji
, Srijoni Banerjee
, Soumya Pandit

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were produced from Aloe vera extract by a green hydrothermal method and tested as electron-transfer mediators in dark fermentation (DF) and microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In DF, the best N-CD dose (10 g/L) boosted biohydrogen production by 35%, raising the yield from 2. 3 to 3. 1 L/L, but reducing volatile fatty acid accumulation and keeping the pH level in a good range. More amount of N-CDs (15 g/L) led to lower performance, which may be due to agglomeration and mass-transfer limitations. In MFCs, the anodes treated with N-CDs had higher electron transfer, new power densities of 11.3 ± 0.2 W/m³, the lowest charge-transfer resistance of 96 ± 4 Ω, and coulombic efficiency reaching 8. 75%.

Original language	English
Article number	156282
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	256
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.156282
State	Published - 3 Aug 2026
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Anode catalyst and power density
Dark fermentation
Green synthesis
Microbial fuel cell
Nitrogen-doped carbon dots

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Condensed Matter Physics
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.156282

Cite this

@article{68159bd3f7cb48d684a93e5580dd30da,

title = "Aloe vera-derived N-doped carbon dots as efficient mediators for coupled biohydrogen and bioelectricity generation",

abstract = "Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were produced from Aloe vera extract by a green hydrothermal method and tested as electron-transfer mediators in dark fermentation (DF) and microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In DF, the best N-CD dose (10 g/L) boosted biohydrogen production by 35\%, raising the yield from 2. 3 to 3. 1 L/L, but reducing volatile fatty acid accumulation and keeping the pH level in a good range. More amount of N-CDs (15 g/L) led to lower performance, which may be due to agglomeration and mass-transfer limitations. In MFCs, the anodes treated with N-CDs had higher electron transfer, new power densities of 11.3 ± 0.2 W/m3, the lowest charge-transfer resistance of 96 ± 4 Ω, and coulombic efficiency reaching 8. 75\%.",

keywords = "Anode catalyst and power density, Dark fermentation, Green synthesis, Microbial fuel cell, Nitrogen-doped carbon dots",

author = "Manidipa Roy and Poulami Sarkar and Soumyajit Chandra and \{Shankara Narayanan\}, S. and Ishita Maji and Srijoni Banerjee and Soumya Pandit",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.",

year = "2026",

month = aug,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.156282",

language = "English",

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T1 - Aloe vera-derived N-doped carbon dots as efficient mediators for coupled biohydrogen and bioelectricity generation

AU - Roy, Manidipa

AU - Sarkar, Poulami

AU - Chandra, Soumyajit

AU - Shankara Narayanan, S.

AU - Maji, Ishita

AU - Banerjee, Srijoni

AU - Pandit, Soumya

PY - 2026/8/3

Y1 - 2026/8/3

N2 - Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were produced from Aloe vera extract by a green hydrothermal method and tested as electron-transfer mediators in dark fermentation (DF) and microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In DF, the best N-CD dose (10 g/L) boosted biohydrogen production by 35%, raising the yield from 2. 3 to 3. 1 L/L, but reducing volatile fatty acid accumulation and keeping the pH level in a good range. More amount of N-CDs (15 g/L) led to lower performance, which may be due to agglomeration and mass-transfer limitations. In MFCs, the anodes treated with N-CDs had higher electron transfer, new power densities of 11.3 ± 0.2 W/m3, the lowest charge-transfer resistance of 96 ± 4 Ω, and coulombic efficiency reaching 8. 75%.

AB - Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were produced from Aloe vera extract by a green hydrothermal method and tested as electron-transfer mediators in dark fermentation (DF) and microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In DF, the best N-CD dose (10 g/L) boosted biohydrogen production by 35%, raising the yield from 2. 3 to 3. 1 L/L, but reducing volatile fatty acid accumulation and keeping the pH level in a good range. More amount of N-CDs (15 g/L) led to lower performance, which may be due to agglomeration and mass-transfer limitations. In MFCs, the anodes treated with N-CDs had higher electron transfer, new power densities of 11.3 ± 0.2 W/m3, the lowest charge-transfer resistance of 96 ± 4 Ω, and coulombic efficiency reaching 8. 75%.

KW - Anode catalyst and power density

KW - Dark fermentation

KW - Green synthesis

KW - Microbial fuel cell

KW - Nitrogen-doped carbon dots

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105043960610

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.156282

DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.156282

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105043960610

SN - 0360-3199

VL - 256

JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

M1 - 156282

ER -

Aloe vera-derived N-doped carbon dots as efficient mediators for coupled biohydrogen and bioelectricity generation

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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