1
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Ge-Zhang S, Cai T, Song M. Life in biophotovoltaics systems. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1151131. [PMID: 37615025 PMCID: PMC10444202 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1151131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
As the most suitable potential clean energy power generation technology, biophotovoltaics (BPV) not only inherits the advantages of traditional photovoltaics, such as safety, reliability and no noise, but also solves the disadvantages of high pollution and high energy consumption in the manufacturing process, providing new functions of self-repair and natural degradation. The basic idea of BPV is to collect light energy and generate electric energy by using photosynthetic autotrophs or their parts, and the core is how these biological materials can quickly and low-loss transfer electrons to the anode through mediators after absorbing light energy and generating electrons. In this mini-review, we summarized the biological materials widely used in BPV at present, mainly cyanobacteria, green algae, biological combinations (using multiple microorganisms in the same BPV system) and isolated products (purified thylakoids, chloroplasts, photosystem I, photosystem II), introduced how researchers overcome the shortcomings of low photocurrent output of BPV, pointed out the limitations that affected the development of BPV' biological materials, and put forward reasonable assumptions accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Taoyang Cai
- Aulin College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Mingbo Song
- College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
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2
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Beauzamy L, Longatte G, Guille-Collignon M, Lemaître F. Investigation of quinone reduction by microalgae using fluorescence - do "lake" and "puddle" mechanisms matter? Bioelectrochemistry 2023; 152:108454. [PMID: 37172391 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthesis is a fundamental process used by Nature to convert solar energy into chemical energy. For the last twenty years, many solutions have been explored to provide electrical power from the photosynthetic chain. In this context, the coupling between microalgae and exogenous quinones is an encouraging strategy because of the capability of quinones to be reduced by the photosynthetic chain. The ability of a quinone to be a good or bad electron acceptor can be evaluated by fluorescence measurements. Fluorescence analyses are thus a convenient tool helping to define a diverting parameter for some quinones. However, this parameter is implicitly designed on the basis of a particular light capture mechanism by algae. In this paper, we propose to revisit previous fluorescence experimental data by considering the two possible mechanisms (lake vs. puddle) and discussing their implication on the conclusions of the analysis. In particular, we show that the maximum extraction efficiency depends on the mechanism (in the case of 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone - 2,6-DCBQ, (0.45 ± 0.02) vs (0.61 ± 0.03) for lake and puddle mechanisms respectively) but that the trends for different quinones remain correlated to the redox potentials independently of the mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léna Beauzamy
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France; Laboratory of Membrane and Molecular Physiology at IBPC, UMR 7141, CNRS/Sorbonne Université, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Longatte
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France; University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France(2)
| | - Manon Guille-Collignon
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Lemaître
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France.
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3
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Zhu H, Wang H, Zhang Y, Li Y. Biophotovoltaics: Recent advances and perspectives. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 64:108101. [PMID: 36681132 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Biophotovoltaics (BPV) is a clean power generation technology that uses self-renewing photosynthetic microorganisms to capture solar energy and generate electrical current. Although the internal quantum efficiency of charge separation in photosynthetic microorganisms is very high, the inefficient electron transfer from photosystems to the extracellular electrodes hampered the electrical outputs of BPV systems. This review summarizes the approaches that have been taken to increase the electrical outputs of BPV systems in recent years. These mainly include redirecting intracellular electron transfer, broadening available photosynthetic microorganisms, reinforcing interfacial electron transfer and design high-performance devices with different configurations. Furthermore, three strategies developed to extract photosynthetic electrons were discussed. Among them, the strategy of using synthetic microbial consortia could circumvent the weak exoelectrogenic activity of photosynthetic microorganisms and the cytotoxicity of exogenous electron mediators, thus show great potential in enhancing the power output and prolonging the lifetime of BPV systems. Lastly, we prospected how to facilitate electron extraction and further improve the performance of BPV systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huawei Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Haowei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanping Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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Action of 2,6-Dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone on the O2-Evolving Activity of Photosystem II in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Cells with and without Cell Wall: Inhibitory Effect of Its Oxidized Form. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060907. [PMID: 36980248 PMCID: PMC10046965 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a widely used object in studies on green algae concerning both photosynthesis aspects and possible biotechnological approaches. The measurement of the maximum O2 evolution by photosystem II (PSII) in living algal cells in the presence of artificial acceptors is one of the commonly used methods for determining the photosynthetic apparatus state or its change as compared to a control, parent strain, etc., because PSII is the most sensitive component of the thylakoid membrane. The present study shows the need to use low concentrations of 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ) paired with potassium ferricyanide (FeCy) for achieving the maximum O2 evolution rate, while a DCBQ concentration above certain threshold results in strong suppression of O2 evolution. The required DCBQ concentration depends on the presence of the cell wall and should be exactly ~0.1 mM or in the range of 0.2–0.4 mM for cells with and without a cell wall, respectively. The inhibition effect is caused, probably, by a higher content of DCBQ in the oxidized form inside cells; this depends on the presence of the cell wall, which influences the efficiency of DCBQ diffusion into and out of the cell, where it is maintained by FeCy in the oxidized state. The possible mechanism of DCBQ inhibition action is discussed.
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5
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Schneider H, Lai B, Krömer J. Utilizing Cyanobacteria in Biophotovoltaics: An Emerging Field in Bioelectrochemistry. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 183:281-302. [PMID: 36441187 DOI: 10.1007/10_2022_212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic global warming is driven by the increasing energy demand and the still dominant use of fossil energy carriers to meet these needs. New carbon-neutral energy sources are urgently needed to solve this problem. Biophotovoltaics, a member of the so-called bioelectrochemical systems family, will provide an important piece of the energy puzzle. It aims to harvest the electrons from sunlight-driven water splitting using the natural oxygenic photosystem (e.g., of cyanobacteria) and utilize them in the form of, e.g., electricity or hydrogen. Several key aspects of biophotovoltaics have been intensively studied in recent years like physicochemical properties of electrodes or efficient wiring of microorganisms to electrodes. Yet, the exact mechanisms of electron transfer between the biocatalyst and the electrode remain unresolved today. Most research is conducted on microscale reactors generating small currents over short time-scales, but multiple experiments have shown biophotovoltaics great potential with lab-scale reactors producing currents over weeks to months. Although biophotovoltaics is still in its infancy with many open research questions to be addressed, new promising results from various labs around the world suggest an important opportunity for biophotovoltaics in the decades to come. In this chapter, we will introduce the concept of biophotovoltaics, summarize its recent key progress, and finally critically discuss the potentials and challenges for future rational development of biophotovoltaics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Schneider
- Department of Solar Materials, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Bin Lai
- Department of Solar Materials, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Krömer
- Department of Solar Materials, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
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6
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Bedendi G, De Moura Torquato LD, Webb S, Cadoux C, Kulkarni A, Sahin S, Maroni P, Milton RD, Grattieri M. Enzymatic and Microbial Electrochemistry: Approaches and Methods. ACS MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AU 2022; 2:517-541. [PMID: 36573075 PMCID: PMC9783092 DOI: 10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.2c00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The coupling of enzymes and/or intact bacteria with electrodes has been vastly investigated due to the wide range of existing applications. These span from biomedical and biosensing to energy production purposes and bioelectrosynthesis, whether for theoretical research or pure applied industrial processes. Both enzymes and bacteria offer a potential biotechnological alternative to noble/rare metal-dependent catalytic processes. However, when developing these biohybrid electrochemical systems, it is of the utmost importance to investigate how the approaches utilized to couple biocatalysts and electrodes influence the resulting bioelectrocatalytic response. Accordingly, this tutorial review starts by recalling some basic principles and applications of bioelectrochemistry, presenting the electrode and/or biocatalyst modifications that facilitate the interaction between the biotic and abiotic components of bioelectrochemical systems. Focus is then directed toward the methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of enzyme/bacteria-electrode interaction and the insights that they provide. The basic concepts of electrochemical methods widely employed in enzymatic and microbial electrochemistry, such as amperometry and voltammetry, are initially presented to later focus on various complementary methods such as spectroelectrochemistry, fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy, and surface analytical/characterization techniques such as quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy. The tutorial review is thus aimed at students and graduate students approaching the field of enzymatic and microbial electrochemistry, while also providing a critical and up-to-date reference for senior researchers working in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Bedendi
- Department
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | | | - Sophie Webb
- Department
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Cécile Cadoux
- Department
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Amogh Kulkarni
- Department
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Selmihan Sahin
- Department
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Plinio Maroni
- Department
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Ross D. Milton
- Department
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
- National
Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Grattieri
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Bari “Aldo Moro”, via E. Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
- IPCF-CNR
Istituto per i Processi Chimico Fisici, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via E. Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy
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7
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Sayegh A, Perego LA, Arderiu Romero M, Escudero L, Delacotte J, Guille‐Collignon M, Grimaud L, Bailleul B, Lemaître F. Finding Adapted Quinones for Harvesting Electrons from Photosynthetic Algae Suspensions. ChemElectroChem 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202100757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Sayegh
- PASTEUR Département de Chimie Ecole Normale Supérieure PSL University, Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris France
| | - Luca A. Perego
- Laboratoire des biomolécules (LBM) Département de chimie Sorbonne Université École normale supérieure PSL University, Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris France
| | - Marc Arderiu Romero
- PASTEUR Département de Chimie Ecole Normale Supérieure PSL University, Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris France
- Laboratory of Membrane and Molecular Physiology at IBPC UMR 7141 CNRS/Sorbonne Université 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie 75005 Paris France
| | - Louis Escudero
- PASTEUR Département de Chimie Ecole Normale Supérieure PSL University, Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris France
| | - Jérôme Delacotte
- PASTEUR Département de Chimie Ecole Normale Supérieure PSL University, Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris France
| | - Manon Guille‐Collignon
- PASTEUR Département de Chimie Ecole Normale Supérieure PSL University, Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris France
| | - Laurence Grimaud
- Laboratoire des biomolécules (LBM) Département de chimie Sorbonne Université École normale supérieure PSL University, Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris France
| | - Benjamin Bailleul
- Laboratory of Membrane and Molecular Physiology at IBPC UMR 7141 CNRS/Sorbonne Université 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie 75005 Paris France
| | - Frédéric Lemaître
- PASTEUR Département de Chimie Ecole Normale Supérieure PSL University, Sorbonne Université CNRS, 75005 Paris France
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8
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Thulasinathan B, Jayabalan T, Sethupathi M, Kim W, Muniyasamy S, Sengottuvelan N, Nainamohamed S, Ponnuchamy K, Alagarsamy A. Bioelectricity generation by natural microflora of septic tank wastewater (STWW) and biodegradation of persistent petrogenic pollutants by basidiomycetes fungi: An integrated microbial fuel cell system. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 412:125228. [PMID: 33516103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The microbial fuel cell is a unique advantageous technology for the scientific community with the simultaneous generation of green energy along with bioelectroremediation of persistent hazardous materials. In this work, a novel approach of integrated system with bioelectricity generation from septic tank wastewater by native microflora in the anode chamber, while Psathyrella candolleana with higher ligninolytic enzyme activity was employed at cathode chamber for the biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Six MFC systems designated as MFC1, MFC2, MFC3, MFC4, MFC5, and MFC6 were experimented with different conditions. MFC1 system using natural microflora of STWW (100%) at anode chamber and K3[Fe(CN)6] as cathode buffer showed a power density and current density of 110 ± 10 mW/m2 and 90 ± 10 mA/m2 respectively. In the other five MFC systems 100% STWW was used at the anode and basidiomycetes fungi in the presence or absence of individual PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, and anthracene) at the cathode. MFC2, MFC3, MFC4, MFC5, and MFC6 had showed power density of 132 ± 17 mW/m2, 138 ± 20 mW/m2, 139 ± 25 mW/m2, and 147 ± 10 mW/m2 respectively. MFC2, MFC3, MFC4, MFC5, and MFC6 had showed current density of 497 ± 17 mA/m2, 519 ± 10 mA/m2, 522 ± 21 mA/m2 and 525 ± 20 mA/m2 respectively. In all the MFC systems, the electrochemical activity of anode biofilm was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry analysis and biofilms on all the MFC systems electrode surface were visualized by confocal laser scanning microscope. Biodegradation of PAHs during MFC experimentations in the cathode chamber was estimated by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Overall, MFC6 system achieved maximum power density production of 525 ± 20 mA/m2 with 77% of chemical oxygen demand removal and 54% of coulombic efficiency at the anode chamber and higher anthracene biodegradation (62 ± 1.13%) at the cathode chamber by the selected Psathyrella candolleana at 14th day. The present natural microflora - basidiomycetes fungal coupled MFC system offers excellent opening towards the simultaneous generation of green electricity and PAHs bioelectroremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boobalan Thulasinathan
- Bioenergy and Bioremediation Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - Tamilmani Jayabalan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - Murugan Sethupathi
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Woong Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Sudhakar Muniyasamy
- CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, Polymers and Composites Competence Area, P.O. Box 1124, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
| | | | - Samsudeen Nainamohamed
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - Kumar Ponnuchamy
- Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arun Alagarsamy
- Bioenergy and Bioremediation Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India.
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9
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Liu L, Choi S. Miniature microbial solar cells to power wireless sensor networks. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 177:112970. [PMID: 33429201 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.112970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Conventional wireless sensor networks (WSNs) powered by traditional batteries or energy storage devices such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors have challenges providing long-term and self-sustaining operation due to their limited energy budgets. Emerging energy harvesting technologies can achieve the longstanding vision of self-powered, long-lived sensors. In particular, miniature microbial solar cells (MSCs) can be the most feasible power source for small and low-power sensor nodes in unattended working environments because they continuously scavenge power from microbial photosynthesis by using the most abundant resources on Earth; solar energy and water. Even with low illumination, the MSC can harvest electricity from microbial respiration. Despite the vast potential and promise of miniature MSCs, their power and lifetime remain insufficient to power potential WSN applications. In this overview, we will introduce the field of miniature MSCs, from early breakthroughs to current achievements, with a focus on emerging techniques to improve their performance. Finally, challenges and perspectives for the future direction of miniature MSCs to self-sustainably power WSN applications will be given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- Bioelectronics & Microsystems Laboratory, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, 4400, Vestal Pkwy East, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Seokheun Choi
- Bioelectronics & Microsystems Laboratory, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, 4400, Vestal Pkwy East, Binghamton, NY, USA; Center for Research in Advanced Sensing Technologies & Environmental Sustainability, State University of New York at Binghamton, 4400, Vestal Pkwy East, Binghamton, NY, USA.
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10
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Tanaka K, Shimakawa G, Kusama S, Harada T, Kato S, Nakanishi S. Ferrihydrite Reduction by Photosynthetic Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Its Correlation With Electricity Generation. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:650832. [PMID: 33763051 PMCID: PMC7982531 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.650832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial extracellular electron transfer (EET) to solid-state electron acceptors such as anodes and metal oxides, which was originally identified in dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria, is a key process in microbial electricity generation and the biogeochemical cycling of metals. Although it is now known that photosynthetic microorganisms can also generate (photo)currents via EET, which has attracted much interest in the field of biophotovoltaics, little is known about the reduction of metal (hydr)oxides via photosynthetic microbial EET. The present work quantitatively assessed the reduction of ferrihydrite in conjunction with the EET of the photosynthetic microbe Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Microbial reduction of ferrihydrite was found to be initiated in response to light but proceeded at higher rates when exogenous glucose was added, even under dark conditions. These results indicate that current generation from Synechocystis cells does not always need light irradiation. The qualitative trends exhibited by the ferrihydrite reduction rates under various conditions showed significant correlation with those of the microbial currents. Notably, the maximum concentration of Fe(II) generated by the cyanobacterial cells under dark conditions in the presence of glucose was comparable to the levels observed in the photic layers of Fe-rich microbial mats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenya Tanaka
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Ginga Shimakawa
- Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Shoko Kusama
- Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Takashi Harada
- Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Souichiro Kato
- Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan.,Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shuji Nakanishi
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan.,Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
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11
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Clifford ER, Bradley RW, Wey LT, Lawrence JM, Chen X, Howe CJ, Zhang JZ. Phenazines as model low-midpoint potential electron shuttles for photosynthetic bioelectrochemical systems. Chem Sci 2021; 12:3328-3338. [PMID: 34164103 PMCID: PMC8179378 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc05655c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical approaches for energy conversion rely on efficient wiring of natural electron transport chains to electrodes. However, state-of-the-art exogenous electron mediators give rise to significant energy losses and, in the case of living systems, long-term cytotoxicity. Here, we explored new selection criteria for exogenous electron mediation by examining phenazines as novel low-midpoint potential molecules for wiring the photosynthetic electron transport chain of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to electrodes. We identified pyocyanin (PYO) as an effective cell-permeable phenazine that can harvest electrons from highly reducing points of photosynthesis. PYO-mediated photocurrents were observed to be 4-fold higher than mediator-free systems with an energetic gain of 200 mV compared to the common high-midpoint potential mediator 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ). The low-midpoint potential of PYO led to O2 reduction side-reactions, which competed significantly against photocurrent generation; the tuning of mediator concentration was important for outcompeting the side-reactions whilst avoiding acute cytotoxicity. DCBQ-mediated photocurrents were generally much higher but also decayed rapidly and were non-recoverable with fresh mediator addition. This suggests that the cells can acquire DCBQ-resistance over time. In contrast, PYO gave rise to steadier current enhancement despite the co-generation of undesirable reactive oxygen species, and PYO-exposed cells did not develop acquired resistance. Moreover, we demonstrated that the cyanobacteria can be genetically engineered to produce PYO endogenously to improve long-term prospects. Overall, this study established that energetic gains can be achieved via the use of low-potential phenazines in photosynthetic bioelectrochemical systems, and quantifies the factors and trade-offs that determine efficacious mediation in living bioelectrochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R Clifford
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Robert W Bradley
- Department of Life Sciences Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College SW7 2AZ UK
| | - Laura T Wey
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Tennis Court Road Cambridge CB2 1QW UK
| | - Joshua M Lawrence
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Tennis Court Road Cambridge CB2 1QW UK
| | - Xiaolong Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Christopher J Howe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Tennis Court Road Cambridge CB2 1QW UK
| | - Jenny Z Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
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12
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Grattieri M, Beaver K, Gaffney EM, Dong F, Minteer SD. Advancing the fundamental understanding and practical applications of photo-bioelectrocatalysis. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:8553-8568. [PMID: 32578607 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc02672g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Photo-bioelectrocatalysis combines the natural and highly sophisticated process of photosynthesis in biological entities with an abiotic electrode surface, to perform semi-artificial photosynthesis. However, challenges must be overcome, from the establishment and understanding of the photoexcited electron harvesting process at the electrode to the electrochemical characterization of these biotic/abiotic systems, and their subsequent tuning for enhancing energy generation (chemical and/or electrical). This Feature Article discusses the various approaches utilized to tackle these challenges, particularly focusing on powerful multi-disciplinary approaches for understanding and improving photo-bioelectrocatalysis. Among them is the combination of experimental evidence and quantum mechanical calculations, the use of bioinformatics to understand photo-bioelectrocatalysis at a metabolic level, or bioengineering to improve and facilitate photo-bioelectrocatalysis. Key aspects for the future development of photo-bioelectrocatalysis are presented alongside future research needs and promising applications of semi-artificial photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Grattieri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E Rm 2020, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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