Chemically Functionalized Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte Nanoparticles for Enhancement of Current Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

Water-soluble conjugated oligoelectrolyte nanoparticles (COE NPs), consisting of a cage-like polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) core equipped at each end with pendant groups (oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) electrolyte, OPVE), have been designed and demonstrated as an efficient strategy in increasing the current generation in Escherichia coli microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The as-prepared COE NPs take advantage of the structure of POSS and the optical properties of the pendant groups, OPVE. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed strong photoluminescence of the stained cells, indicating spontaneous accumulation of COE NPs within cell membranes. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of the COE NPs is superior to that of an established membrane intercommunicating COE, DSSN+ in increasing current generation, suggesting that these COE NPs thus hold great potential to boost the performance of MFCs.

Microbial Electrochemical Systems with Future Perspectives using Advanced Nanomaterials and Microfluidics

“…[21][22][23] The third process (Calvin cycle) uses these energy and reduction equivalents to transform and reduce carbon dioxide to carbohydrates. [38,39] However, chemically modified E. Coli is reported to be associated with release of cytosolic components during the oligoelectrolyte incorporation. Some microorganisms use reducing agents (e.g., H 2 ) and oxidizing agents (e.g., nitrates or CO 2 ), and others utilize solid minerals as electron donor or acceptor (extracellular electron transfer or EET).…”

“…Mixed direct and indirect EET process have been reported, and increasing mediator concentration enhances indirect EET, which in turn improves the output power . Cell membrane engineering using functionalized conjugated oligoelectrolytes as molecular wire are reported to boost the performance of MFC . However, chemically modified E. Coli is reported to be associated with release of cytosolic components during the oligoelectrolyte incorporation.…”

Ratiometric near infrared luminescent thermometer based on lanthanide metal-organic frameworks

“…Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have high surface area, large pore volume and widely tunable composition, which make them useful for startling performances in gas storage and separation, catalysis, nonlinear optics, and biomedicine [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Recently, through the great variety of structural design, pore size control and post-synthetic modification, numerous MOFs with abundant and tunable luminescent properties have been prepared [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

Antibacterial Narrow‐Band‐Gap Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes with High Photothermal Conversion Efficiency

“…[5] Although simple to produce,b iocompatible,a nd possibly biodegradable,o rganic molecules have been restricted and disfavored because of their low PTCE and relatively poor stability. [6] Thef rontier orbital energies of COEs can be regulated by introducing electron-poor and electron-rich substructures.This strategy has been used to design molecules and polymers for electronic and biological applications. COEs with at opology and molecular length that are commensurate for insertion into lipid membranes have demonstrated potential in bioelectro-chemical systems,w hole cell catalysis,a nd antibacterial applications.…”

“…COEs with at opology and molecular length that are commensurate for insertion into lipid membranes have demonstrated potential in bioelectro-chemical systems,w hole cell catalysis,a nd antibacterial applications. [6] Thef rontier orbital energies of COEs can be regulated by introducing electron-poor and electron-rich substructures.This strategy has been used to design molecules and polymers for electronic and biological applications. [7] It is worth pointing out that molecules with accentuated donoracceptor-donor (D-A-D) interactions have been suggested to exhibit lower rates of intersystem crossing (ISC) [8] and that COE backbones with high electrostatic potential distributions afford low fluorescence-emissione fficiencies because of interactions with water.…”