Engineering the Bacterial Membrane with Conductive Pathways for Enhanced Efficiency of Electron-Transfer to the Anode in Microbial-Fuel-Cells
Abstract
Engineering the Bacterial Membrane with Conductive Pathways for Enhanced Efficiency of Electron-Transfer to the Anode in MicrobialA microbial fuel cell (MFC) employs microorganisms (at the anode) to convertbiochemical energy into electrons, which travel through a load to the cathode, where a reducing reaction accepts the electrons. Extensive research has been conducted to engineer the efficiency of MFCs, including anode/cathode design, intra-membrane engineering to enhance electrontransfer from cell-interior, and controlling the micro-environment of the cells. A complementary research on engineering the exterior cell-membrane to enhance the transfer of the electron tothe anode can significantly improve the efficiency of the MFC. The main objectives of the proposed program are to (a) conduct a detailed study on addition of exterior conductive pathways on Geobacter Sulfurreducen and Shewanella Oneidensis cells via the assembly of conductive nanomaterials (graphene quantum dots, graphene sheets and gold nanoparticles/nanorods) on cell membrane, (b) study the electron transport process in a controlled assembly of bacteria/nanomaterial (BN) systems in a micro-MFC construct at single and few cells level, and (c) characterize the MFC performance and correlate it with the attributes of the nanoparticle-assembly (density/coverage, dimensions, shape, Fermi level, and conductivity). Since, in a regular MFC, only a partial surface of the cell is connected to the anode, having additional conduction pathways to the anode from the entire cell can enable improvedefficiency of the MFCs. Such interfacing can provide next-generation applications, including complex bioelectronics/ optoelectronics and gas-/bio- sensing using internal biochemicalreactions (such as cell depolarization).
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 26, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812583
Entities
People
- Vikas Berry
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign