Electrode-Specific Molecular Wires for Bioelectrochemical Systems (Chemical Sciences)
Abstract
Conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEÕs) are molecules defined by a conjugated, semi-conducting backbone and pendant ionic functionalities which afford solubility in polar solvents Ð a feature which has allowed for the utilization of these molecules in biological systems. Through interactions with microbial membranes, certain classes of COEÕs have been shown to improve the performance of bioelectrochemical devices such as microbial fuel cells (MFCÕs). To this point, the use of COEÕs in microbial devices has been limited to the addition of solutions of the synthetic compounds to suspensions of cells. Instead of directly influencing the microbes, the aim of this study was to modify the anode of a MFC in order to enhance physical and electronic interactions at the biotic-abiotic interface. To achieve the electrode modification, a novel COE containing a terminal thiol was designed and synthesized. Formation of self-assembled monolayers through thiolate-gold bonds was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Increase physical interaction between bacterial cells and gold films as a result of surface modification was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Microbial fuel cells utilizing gold electrodes functionalized with this molecule showed a 27% increase in current generation and an 81% increase in peak power relative to bare gold electrodes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1510486
Entities
People
- Guillermo C. Bazan
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of California, Santa Barbara