Electrochemical investigation of a microbial solar cell reveals a nonphotosynthetic biocathode catalyst.

ABSTRACT: Microbial solar cells (MSCs) are microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that generate their own oxidant and/or fuel through photosynthetic reactions. Here, we present electrochemical analyses and biofilm 16S rRNA gene profiling of biocathodes of sediment/seawater-based MSCs inoculated from the biocathode of a previously described sediment/seawater-based MSC. Electrochemical analyses indicate that for these second-generation MSC biocathodes, catalytic activity diminishes over time if illumination is provided during growth, whereas it remains relatively stable if growth occurs in the dark. For both illuminated and dark MSC biocathodes, cyclic voltammetry reveals a catalytic-current-potential dependency consistent with heterogeneous electron transfer mediated by an insoluble microbial redox cofactor, wh

SUBMITTER: Strycharz-Glaven SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3697567 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature