Microbial solar cells: applying photosynthetic and electrochemically active organisms

Strik, D.P.B.T.B.; Timmers, R.A.; Helder, M.; Steinbusch, K.J.J.; Hamelers, H.V.M.; Buisman, Cees J.N.

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2010.10.001

Cited by 245 publications

(140 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…In BESs, microorganisms catalyze the electrochemical formation or degradation of organic molecules by interfacing their biological metabolism with an electrode 1, 2, 3. The interaction between microorganisms and electrical conductive structures makes these systems unique and versatile, with potential applications in electrical energy storage,4, 5 energy‐ and nutrient‐recovering wastewater treatment systems,6, 7, 8 production of high‐value chemical commodities,9, 10 long‐term off‐grid low‐power electricity generation,11, 12 and the development of highly specific and innovative biosensors 13, 14. Additionally, microorganisms may provide temporal charge storage within the microbial cell 15, 16, 17.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situ Biofilm Quantification in Bioelectrochemical Systems by using Optical Coherence Tomography

Molenaar

Sleutels²,

Pereirã³

et al. 2018

ChemSusChem

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Detailed studies of microbial growth in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are required for their suitable design and operation. Here, we report the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a tool for in situ and noninvasive quantification of biofilm growth on electrodes (bioanodes). An experimental platform is designed and described in which transparent electrodes are used to allow real‐time, 3D biofilm imaging. The accuracy and precision of the developed method is assessed by relating the OCT results to well‐established standards for biofilm quantification (chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total N content) and show high correspondence to these standards. Biofilm thickness observed by OCT ranged between 3 and 90 μm for experimental durations ranging from 1 to 24 days. This translated to growth yields between 38 and 42 mgCODbiomass gCODacetate −1 at an anode potential of −0.35 V versus Ag/AgCl. Time‐lapse observations of an experimental run performed in duplicate show high reproducibility in obtained microbial growth yield by the developed method. As such, we identify OCT as a powerful tool for conducting in‐depth characterizations of microbial growth dynamics in BESs. Additionally, the presented platform allows concomitant application of this method with various optical and electrochemical techniques.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situ Biofilm Quantification in Bioelectrochemical Systems by using Optical Coherence Tomography

Molenaar

Sleutels²,

Pereirã³

et al. 2018

ChemSusChem

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“…MSCs have been recognized as a possible source of renewable energy since as early as the 1960s, when photosynthetic microorganisms were used to modify electrodes for improved current production (2). Since then, several adaptations of MSCs have been developed and were recently reviewed (3,4). The majority of these adaptations utilize photosynthetic processes only at the biofilm anode, such as photosynthetic generation of hydrogen or photosynthetically derived electrons for electricity generation (5)(6)(7).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrochemical Investigation of a Microbial Solar Cell Reveals a Nonphotosynthetic Biocathode Catalyst

Glaven

Wang

Zhou

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

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c Microbial solar cells (MSCs) are microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that generate their own oxidant and/or fuel through photosynthetic reactions. Here, we present electrochemical analyses and biofilm 16S rRNA gene profiling of biocathodes of sediment/seawaterbased MSCs inoculated from the biocathode of a previously described sediment/seawater-based MSC. Electrochemical analyses indicate that for these second-generation MSC biocathodes, catalytic activity diminishes over time if illumination is provided during growth, whereas it remains relatively stable if growth occurs in the dark. For both illuminated and dark MSC biocathodes, cyclic voltammetry reveals a catalytic-current-potential dependency consistent with heterogeneous electron transfer mediated by an insoluble microbial redox cofactor, which was conserved following enrichment of the dark MSC biocathode using a three-electrode configuration. 16S rRNA gene profiling showed Gammaproteobacteria, most closely related to Marinobacter spp., predominated in the enriched biocathode. The enriched biocathode biofilm is easily cultured on graphite cathodes, forms a multimicrobe-thick biofilm (up to 8.2 m), and does not lose catalytic activity after exchanges of the reactor medium. Moreover, the consortium can be grown on cathodes with only inorganic carbon provided as the carbon source, which may be exploited for proposed bioelectrochemical systems for electrosynthesis of organic carbon from carbon dioxide. These results support a scheme where two distinct communities of organisms develop within MSC biocathodes: one that is photosynthetically active and one that catalyzes reduction of O 2 by the cathode, where the former partially inhibits the latter. The relationship between the two communities must be further explored to fully realize the potential for MSC applications.

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“…This long-range electron transfer thus has been shown to increase electricity production by 10 times (Reguera et al, 2006). Along the same lines, MNWproducing photosynthetic micro-organisms (Gorby et al, 2006;Sure et al, 2015;2016b) may be helpful in improving the efficiency of photosynthetic microbial fuel cells and microbial solar cells (Rosenbaum et al, 2010;Strik et al, 2011).…”

Section: Bioenergymentioning

confidence: 94%

Microbial nanowires: an electrifying tale

et al. 2016

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Electromicrobiology has gained momentum in the last 10 years with advances in microbial fuel cells and the discovery of microbial nanowires (MNWs). The list of MNW-producing micro-organisms is growing and providing intriguing insights into the presence of such micro-organisms in diverse environments and the potential roles MNWs can perform. This review discusses the MNWs produced by different micro-organisms, including their structure, composition and mechanism of electron transfer through MNWs. Two hypotheses, metalliclike conductivity and an electron hopping model, have been proposed for electron transfer and we present a current understanding of both these hypotheses. MNWs not only are poised to change the way we see micro-organisms but also may impact the fields of bioenergy, biogeochemistry and bioremediation; hence, their potential applications in these fields are highlighted here.

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Microbial solar cells: applying photosynthetic and electrochemically active organisms

Cited by 245 publications

References 77 publications

In situ Biofilm Quantification in Bioelectrochemical Systems by using Optical Coherence Tomography

In situ Biofilm Quantification in Bioelectrochemical Systems by using Optical Coherence Tomography

Electrochemical Investigation of a Microbial Solar Cell Reveals a Nonphotosynthetic Biocathode Catalyst

Microbial nanowires: an electrifying tale

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