Three-dimensional conductive conjugated polyelectrolyte gels facilitate interfacial electron transfer for improved biophotovoltaic performance.

ABSTRACT: Living biophotovoltaics represent a potentially green and sustainable method to generate bio-electricity by harnessing photosynthetic microorganisms. However, barriers to electron transfer across the abiotic/biotic interface hinder solar-to-electricity conversion efficiencies. Herein, we report on a facile method to improve interfacial electron transfer by combining the photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (S. elongatus) with a conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) atop indium tin oxide (ITO) charge-collecting electrodes. By self-assembly of the CPE with S. elongatus, soft and semitransparent S. elongatus/CPE biocomposites are formed with three-dimensional (3D) conductive networks that exhibit mixed ionic-electronic conduction. This specific architecture enhances both

SUBMITTER: Chen Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12214703 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature