Biofilm and nanowire production leads to increased current in Geobacter sulfurreducens fuel cells.
Geobacter sulfurreducens developed highly structured, multilayer biofilms on the anode surface of a microbial fuel cell converting acetate to electricity. Cells at a distance from the anode remained viable, and there was no decrease in the efficiency of current production as the thickness of the biofilm increased. Genetic studies demonstrated that efficient electron transfer through the biofilm required the presence of electrically conductive pili. These pili may represent an electronic network permeating the biofilm that can promote long-range electrical transfer in an energy-efficient manner, increasing electricity production more than 10-fold.
Reguera
Gemma
G
Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA. reguera@msu.edu
Nevin
Kelly P
KP
Nicoll
Julie S
JS
Covalla
Sean F
SF
Woodard
Trevor L
TL
Lovley
Derek R
DR
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D004579:Electron Transport; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045302:Geobacter / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009154:Mutation; D053770:Nanowires
D000085:Acetates