title: Chemically Functionalized Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte Nanoparticles for Enhancement of Current Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells.
abstract: Water-soluble conjugated oligoelectrolyte nanoparticles (COE NPs), consisting of a cage-like polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) core equipped at each end with pendant groups (oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) electrolyte, OPVE), have been designed and demonstrated as an efficient strategy in increasing the current generation in Escherichia coli microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The as-prepared COE NPs take advantage of the structure of POSS and the optical properties of the pendant groups, OPVE. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed strong photoluminescence of the stained cells, indicating spontaneous accumulation of COE NPs within cell membranes. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of the COE NPs is superior to that of an established membrane intercommunicating COE, DSSN+ in increasing current generation, suggesting that these COE NPs thus hold great potential to boost the performance of MFCs.
authors.affiliation: †School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Cui-e
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: †School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: §Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yuanzhao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: †School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.|§Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
authors.forename: Victor Bochuan
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Biqing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: §Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.|∥School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences and Centre for Marine Bio-innovation, The University of New South Wales, Sydney New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kjelleberg
authors.affiliation: §Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.|⊥School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: †School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.|§Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
authors.forename: Say Chye Joachim
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: Lianhui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: †School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.|∇Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Qichun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds; C521417:polyhedraloligosilsesquioxane
keywords: conjugated oligoelectrolyte (COE); current generation; microbial fuel cells; nanoparticles; polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS)