Study of biogenic iron oxyhydroxide for application in electronics and biotechnology

Abstract

The object of this study is a biogenic material obtained from neutrophilic sheath-forming iron bacteria of the genus Leptothrix cultivated in a specific medium. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the biogenic product. The X-ray diffraction spectrum of the control sample (without inoculated bacteria) is presented to demonstrate the important role of the bacteria in the Fe2+ transformation. Unlike the biogenic product, where nanoparticles of lepidocrocite are present, no traces of stable single-phase iron oxide or oxyhydroxide were detected in the control sample. The study of the biogenic sample showed a lack of significant differences between the naturally obtained and the artificially produced sheaths. Magnetostriction effect measurements were conducted to probe how the different magnetic behavior at temperatures below and above the Neel temperature (50 - 77 K) could be used in possible applications of the material in actuating and sensing devices.