title: Influence of anode surface chemistry on microbial fuel cell operation.
abstract: Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) modified gold anodes are used in single chamber microbial fuel cells for organic removal and electricity generation. Hydrophilic (N(CH3)3(+), OH, COOH) and hydrophobic (CH3) SAMs are examined for their effect on bacterial attachment, current and power output. The different substratum chemistry affects the community composition of the electrochemically active biofilm formed and thus the current and power output. Of the four SAM-modified anodes tested, N(CH3)3(+) results in the shortest start up time (15 days), highest current achieved (225 μA cm(-2)) and highest MFC power density (40 μW cm(-2)), followed by COOH (150 μA cm(-2) and 37 μW cm(-2)) and OH (83 μA cm(-2) and 27 μW cm(-2)) SAMs. Hydrophobic SAM decreases electrochemically active bacteria attachment and anode performance in comparison to hydrophilic SAMs (CH3 modified anodes 7 μA cm(-2) anodic current and 1.2 μW cm(-2) MFC's power density). A consortium of Clostridia and δ-Proteobacteria is found on all the anode surfaces, suggesting a synergistic cooperation under anodic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Center Emerging Energy Technologies (CEET), Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babanova
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Kateryna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Artyushkova
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cornejo
authors.affiliation: Center for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Linnea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ista
authors.affiliation: J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Orianna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bretschger
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551 Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. Electronic address: plamen@unm.edu.
authors.forename: Plamen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atanassov
authors.affiliation: Center Emerging Energy Technologies (CEET), Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schuler
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004566:Electrodes; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D006046:Gold
keywords: Anode biofilm analysis; Bioelectrocatalysis; Microbial fuel cells; Self assembled monolayer; Surface modification