title: A Carbon-Neutral Photosynthetic Microbial Fuel Cell Powered by Microcystis aeruginosa.
abstract: A photosynthetic microbial fuel cell (m-PMFC) is developed for generating electricity by harnessing solar energy using Microcystis aeruginosa. In this m-PMFC, commensal bacteria can consume the nutrients that Microcystis aeruginosa produces to generate electricity so that no net CO₂production occurs. A b-MFC is constructed to confirm the role of commensal bacteria in electric generation. An s-PMFC is constructed to confirm the contribution of Microcystis aeruginosa as substrates. The power outputs of m-PMFCs exhibit no significant difference in terms of different inoculation amount of Microcystis aeruginosa or light/dark cycles. The power density of m-PMFC exhibits similar response to bubbling of N₂and O₂as that of b-MFC, as confirmed by cyclic voltammetry analysis of m-PMFC and b-MFC. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrate that the biofilm of m-PMFC consists mainly of commensal bacteria. These results suggest that commensal bacteria act as the main biocatalysts and Microcystis aeruginosa as the anode substrates in the m-PMFC.
authors.affiliation: Lab of NMR and NanoST, Division of Nanobionic Research, Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Meirong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Zongwu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018533:Biomass; D046931:Microcystis; D010100:Oxygen; D017440:Photoperiod; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D059205:Renewable Energy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen