Photosynthetic biofilms in pure culture harness solar energy in a mediatorless bio-photovoltaic cell (BPV) system

McCormick, Alistair J.; Bombelli, Paolo; Scott, Amanda M.; Philips, Alexander J.; Smith, Alison G.; Fisher, Adrian C.; Howe, Christopher J.

doi:10.1039/c1ee01965a

Cited by 244 publications

(248 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…However, the glass surfaces of the solar panels are very different from the building materials investigated in our earlier work (mortar, fiber cement, or painted surfaces) and obviously have a much shorter time of wetness, being non-absorptive. Chlorella has been found to be more able to form biofilms on indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene terephthalate, a similarly smooth, hard surface, than were two genera of cyanobacteria, or the alga Dunaliella (McCormick et al, 2011), and it may be that Chlorella is more adept at attaching to such smooth, nonabsorptive surfaces than other phototrophs. Certainly, cells of this genus have been shown to produce an exudate that enhances their attachment to immersed glass surfaces (Tosteson and Corpe, 1975).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Microbial colonization affects the efficiency of photovoltaic panels in a tropical environment

Shirakawa

Zilles

Mocelin

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Management

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Microbial colonization affects the efficiency of photovoltaic panels in a tropical environment

Shirakawa

Zilles

Mocelin

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Management

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“…(Yagishita et al 1993) and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (McCormick et al 2011) or via PS2 in Nostoc and Lyngbya (Pisciotta et al 2011). This process is termed extracellular electron transfer (EET) and can be measured in the form of anodic electrical current if an electrically conductive solid (electrode) is selected as the terminal insoluble electron acceptor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Marine phototrophic consortia transfer electrons to electrodes in response to reductive stress

et al. 2015

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This work studies how extracellular electron transfer (EET) from cyanobacteria-dominated marine microbial biofilms to solid electrodes is affected by the availability of inorganic carbon (Ci). The EET was recorded chronoamperometrically in the form of electrical current by a potentiostat in two identical photo-electrochemical cells using carbon electrodes poised at a potential of +0.6 V versus standard hydrogen electrode under 12/12 h illumination/dark cycles. The Ci was supplied by the addition of NaHCO3 to the medium and/or by sparging CO2 gas. At high Ci conditions, EET from the microbial biofilm to the electrodes was observed only during the dark phase, indicating the occurrence of a form of night-time respiration that can use insoluble electrodes as the terminal electron acceptor. At low or no Ci conditions, however, EET also occurred during illumination suggesting that, in the absence of their natural electron acceptor, some cyanobacteria are able to utilise solid electrodes as an electron sink. This may be a natural survival mechanism for cyanobacteria to maintain redox balance in environments with limiting CO2 and/or high light intensity.

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“…1). 12,25 Nevertheless, biolms of photosynthetic microorganisms are capable of electricity generation with no addition of mediators (mediatorless), revealing direct electron transfer, 7 and potentially representing a more sustainable platform.…”

Section: 24mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, McCormick at el. 7 showed that red light induced the highest photosynthetic rates and the highest power in a mediatorless BPV when using the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. WH5701.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tapping into cyanobacteria electron transfer for higher exoelectrogenic activity by imposing iron limited growth

et al. 2018

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The exoelectrogenic capacity of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 was studied in iron limited growth in order to establish conditions favouring extracellular electron transfer in cyanobacteria for photo-bioelectricity generation. Investigation into extracellular reduction of ferricyanide by Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 demonstrated enhanced capability for the iron limited conditions in comparison to the iron sufficient conditions. Furtheremore, the significance of pH showed that higher rates of ferricyanide reduction occurred at pH 7, with a 2.7-fold increase with respect to pH 9.5 for iron sufficient cultures and 24-fold increase for iron limited cultures. The strategy presented induced exoelectrogenesis driven mainly by photosynthesis and an estimated redirection of the 28% of electrons from photosynthetic activity was achieved by the iron limited conditions. In addition, ferricyanide reduction in the dark by iron limited cultures also presented a significant improvement, with a 6-fold increase in comparison to iron sufficient cultures. Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 ferricyanide reduction rates are unprecedented for cyanobacteria and they are comparable to those of microalgae. The redox activity of biofilms directly on ITO-coated glass, in the absence of any artificial mediator, was also enhanced under the iron limited conditions, implying that iron limitation increased exoelectrogenesis at the outer membrane level. Cyclic voltammetry of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 biofilms on ITO-coated glass showed a midpoint potential around 0.22 V vs. Ag/ AgCl and iron limited biofilms had the capability to sustain currents in a saturated-like fashion. The present work proposes an iron related exoelectrogenic capacity of Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 and sets a starting point for the study of this strain in order to improve photo-bioelectricity and darkbioelectricity generation by cyanobacteria, including more sustainable mediatorless systems.

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Photosynthetic biofilms in pure culture harness solar energy in a mediatorless bio-photovoltaic cell (BPV) system

Cited by 244 publications

References 48 publications

Microbial colonization affects the efficiency of photovoltaic panels in a tropical environment

Microbial colonization affects the efficiency of photovoltaic panels in a tropical environment

Marine phototrophic consortia transfer electrons to electrodes in response to reductive stress

Tapping into cyanobacteria electron transfer for higher exoelectrogenic activity by imposing iron limited growth

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