title: Experimental and theoretical demonstrations for the mechanism behind enhanced microbial electron transfer by CNT network.
abstract: Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) share the principle of the microbially catalyzed anodic substrate oxidation. Creating an electrode interface to promote extracellular electron transfer from microbes to electrode and understanding such mechanisms are crucial for engineering BESs. In this study, significantly promoted electron transfer and a 10-times increase in current generation in a BES were achieved by the utilization of carbon nanotube (CNT) network, compared with carbon paper. The mechanisms for the enhanced current generation with the CNT network were elucidated with both experimental approach and molecular dynamic simulations. The fabricated CNT network was found to be able to substantially enhance the interaction between the c-type cytochromes and solid electron acceptor, indicating that the direct electron transfer from outer-membrane decaheme c-type cytochromes to electrode might occur. The results obtained in this study will benefit for the optimized design of new materials to target the outer membrane proteins for enhanced electron exchanges.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China [2] Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China [3].
authors.forename: Xian-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China [2].
authors.forename: Jie-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Xi
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Dao-Bo
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urban and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China [2] Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Han-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes / Q000382:microbiology; D004579:Electron Transport; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000382:microbiology*; D020592:Shewanella / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon