Scientific Contributions

This study investigates the role of iron oxide (Fe2O3)-MXene (Ti3C2) based anode on microbial growth to generate clean energy from wastewater using a mediator less MFCs. We combine physical, chemical, and biological methods (microbe metabarcoding) to elucidate the engineered anode structure and the impact of Fe2O3 /Mxene on the growth of microbes, the electron transfer process, and generated power. The results demonstrate that Fe2O3 in the engineered anode facilitates the microbes-anode interaction that improves the attachment of a biofilm predominantly consisting of Acidomonas methanolica (75 % of read counts), which engages in extracellular electron transfer by leveraging the Fe redox cycle during MFC operations, achieving a power density of 2.7 W m–2 and a notable current density of 15 A m–2. The results open perspectives for understanding the role of transition metal oxide in the rational design of anodes targeting specific microbe populations for the practical application of MFCs.