A cost-effective microbial fuel cell to detect and select for photosynthetic electrogenic activity in algae and cyanobacteria

Luimstra, Veerle M.; Kennedy, Sophie-Jean; Güttler, Johanna; Wood, Susanna A.; Williams, David E.; Packer, Michael A.

doi:10.1007/s10811-013-0051-2

Cited by 48 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…It can be attributed to that the cationic Os-polymer forms strong electrostatic interactions with the anionic cell membrane of the P. pseudovolvox cells and subsequently retards the fl exibility and mobility of the redox centers (Os +/2+ ) of the Os-polymer to freely interact with each other decreasing the rate of the electron "hopping." [ 30 ] In the second and third cycles, the photocurrent density gradually decreases to 0.32 and 0.21 µA cm −2 . [ 23 ] The most signifi cant response was observed while the P. pseudovolvox cell modifi ed electrode was illuminated and showed an increased anodic peak current (Figure 2 D).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…[ 30 ] In brief, a low ionic strength MLA [ 69 ] growth medium was used with a white cool fl uorescent lamp providing a light intensity of ≈10 Wm −2 on a 12:12 h light and dark regime. [ 30 ] In brief, a low ionic strength MLA [ 69 ] growth medium was used with a white cool fl uorescent lamp providing a light intensity of ≈10 Wm −2 on a 12:12 h light and dark regime.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 23 ] and electrode surfaces. [ 30 ] Here we report on the photoelectrogenic activity of P. pseudovolvox for harnessing solar energy. [ 26 ] Algae are aquatic photosynthetic organisms and are responsible for 50% of the overall photosynthesis and CO 2 fi xation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Recently, Os-polymers were studied as electron conduits between photosynthetic organisms ( Rhodobacter capsulatus [ 22 ] and Leptolyngbya sp. The strain used in this work is strongly benthic and has demonstrated greater electrogenic activity [ 30 ] than a panel of prokaryotic cyanobacteria under identical conditions. There are other examples, where different polymers have been used to facilitate electrochemical communication between photosynthetic systems and electrodes, e.g., Zou et al, reported enhanced electron extraction from photosynthetic biofi lms via an electrically conductive polymer, polypyrrole, [ 24 ] Rosenbaum et al, reported photocurrent generation and hydrogen production by immobilizing a green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , on a polymer, e.g., poly(2,3,5,6-tetrafl uoroaniline) or poly(2fl uoroaniline) coated platinum mesh electrodes, [ 25 ] and Logan and co-workers have studied the bioelectricity production by employing two different microalgae, i.e., Chlorella vulgaris and Ulva lactuca .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Photoelectrochemical Wiring of Paulschulzia pseudovolvox (Algae) to Osmium Polymer Modified Electrodes for Harnessing Solar Energy

Hasan

Çevik

Sperling

et al. 2015

Advanced Energy Materials

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Studies on biological photovoltaics based on intact organisms are challenging and in most cases include diffusing mediators to facilitate electrochemical communication with electrodes. However, using such mediators is impractical. Instead, surface confined Os‐polymers have been successfully used in electrochemical studies including oxidoreductases and bacterial cells but not with algae. Photoelectrogenic activity of a green alga, Paulschulzia pseudovolvox, immobilized on graphite or Os‐polymer modified graphite is demonstrated. Direct electron transfer is revealed, when no mediator is added, between algae and electrodes with electrons emerging from photolysis of water via the cells to the electrode exhibiting a photocurrent density of 0.02 μA cm−2. Os‐polymers with different redox potentials and structures are used to optimize the energy gap between the photosynthetic complexes of the cells and the Os‐polymers and those of greater solubility, better accessibility with membranes, and relatively higher potentials yielded a photocurrent density of 0.44 μA cm−2. When benzoquinone is included to the electrolyte, the photocurrent density reaches 6.97 μA cm−2. The photocurrent density is improved to 11.50 μA cm−2, when the cells are protected from reactive oxygen species when either superoxide dismutase or catalase is added. When adding an inhibitor specific for photosystem II, diuron, the photocurrent is decreased by 50%.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 96%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photoelectrochemical Wiring of Paulschulzia pseudovolvox (Algae) to Osmium Polymer Modified Electrodes for Harnessing Solar Energy

Hasan

Çevik

Sperling

et al. 2015

Advanced Energy Materials

Self Cite

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“…Algae are eukaryotic organisms, where photosynthesis occurs in an isolated organelle, the chloroplast, into which external and extracellular redox species have limited access. Thus delivering photo‐energized electrons from algae to electrodes is presumably difficult …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Photocurrent Generation from Different Photosynthetic Organisms

et al. 2017

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Biological photovoltaics (BPVs) are emerging as a potential sustainable energy‐generating technology to convert solar energy into electrical energy. Although a great variety of photosynthetic biomaterials were studied in BPVs, cyanobacteria are considered as superior candidates because of their simpler physiology. To facilitate extracellular electron transfer (EET) from cyanobacteria to electrodes is the greatest challenge to improving the performance of BPVs. However, a systematic study comparing the photo‐excited EET from such organisms is not yet reported. Here we report on a comparison of photocurrent density generated by benthic cyanobacteria, that is, two species of Leptolyngbya sp. (CAWBG62 and CAWBG100), one species from the order Chroococcales (CAWBG64), and a eukaryotic algae, Paulschulzia pseudovolvox (UKE). This algae and CAWBG100 were sourced from New Zealand, CAWBG62 and CAWBG64 were from Antarctica. We demonstrate EET mediated by three different electron transfer (ET) mediating systems on graphite electrodes. These are as follows: (I) [Os(2,2’‐(bipyridine)2(polyvinyl‐imidazole)10Cl]+/2+ (1:9) [Os‐(bpy)PVI] (II) p‐benzoquinone (PBQ) (III) [Os‐(bpy)PVI] together with PBQ. The maximum photocurrent density of 47.2 μA cm−2 was obtained from CAWBG64 mediated by (III) [Os‐(bpy)PVI] together with PBQ.

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A High Power‐Density, Mediator‐Free, Microfluidic Biophotovoltaic Device for Cyanobacterial Cells

Bombelli

Müller

Herling

et al. 2014

Advanced Energy Materials

150

188

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Biophotovoltaics has emerged as a promising technology for generating renewable energy because it relies on living organisms as inexpensive, self-repairing, and readily available catalysts to produce electricity from an abundant resource: sunlight. The efficiency of biophotovoltaic cells, however, has remained significantly lower than that achievable through synthetic materials. Here, a platform is devised to harness the large power densities afforded by miniaturized geometries. To this effect, a soft-lithography approach is developed for the fabrication of microfluidic biophotovoltaic devices that do not require membranes or mediators. Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells are injected and allowed to settle on the anode, permitting the physical proximity between cells and electrode required for mediator-free operation. Power densities of above 100 mW m-2 are demonstrated for a chlorophyll concentration of 100 μM under white light, which is a high value for biophotovoltaic devices without extrinsic supply of additional energy.

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A cost-effective microbial fuel cell to detect and select for photosynthetic electrogenic activity in algae and cyanobacteria

Cited by 48 publications

References 30 publications

Photoelectrochemical Wiring of Paulschulzia pseudovolvox (Algae) to Osmium Polymer Modified Electrodes for Harnessing Solar Energy

Photoelectrochemical Wiring of Paulschulzia pseudovolvox (Algae) to Osmium Polymer Modified Electrodes for Harnessing Solar Energy

Evaluation of Photocurrent Generation from Different Photosynthetic Organisms

A High Power‐Density, Mediator‐Free, Microfluidic Biophotovoltaic Device for Cyanobacterial Cells

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