title: Hybridization of photoanode and bioanode to enhance the current production of bioelectrochemical systems.
abstract: Bacterial extracellular electron transfer is one of the main bottlenecks in determining the efficiency of bioelectrochemical systems. Here, we report a photobioanode that combines carbon material with a photocatalyst (α-Fe2O3), utilizing visible light to accelerate biofilm formation and extracellular electron transfer in bioelectrochemical systems. Cyclic voltammetric studies of this photobioanode revealed active electron transfer at the anode/biofilm interface. The charge-transfer resistance of the anode/biofilm was ca. 46.6 Ω, which is half that of the unmodified anode. In addition, the results of confocal laser scanning microscopy and bacterial community analysis indicate that the photobioanode and light can accelerate biofilm formation and enrich exoelectrogens. When equipped in photo-bioelectrochemical systems, the start-up time was shortened from about 2.5 days to 1.1 days. The maximum current density of photo-bioelectrochemical systems was almost twice that of a control bioelectrochemical system. In addition, the current density of the photo-bio-electrochemical cell (PBEC) showed almost no decrease after being subjected to 40 d of illumination. This photobioanode is therefore a cost-effective, energy-clean, environment-friendly anode with high electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability, which has broad prospects in various processes, including wastewater treatment, bioelectricity generation, bioelectricity synthesis, and hydrogen production.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China; Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Huajun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Yanqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Yuyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China.
authors.forename: Meizhen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China. Electronic address: longyy@zjgsu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yuyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018441:Biofilms; D004566:Electrodes; D004579:Electron Transport; D005290:Ferric Compounds
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds
keywords: Bioelectrochemical system; Biofilm formation; Charge-transfer; Current generation; Photocatalyst