Charge transport in films of Geobacter sulfurreducens on graphite electrodes as a function of film thickness

Partha Sarathi Jana, Krishna Katuri, Paul Kavanagh, Amit Kumar, Dónal Leech*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Harnessing, and understanding the mechanisms of growth and activity of, biofilms of electroactive bacteria (EAB) on solid electrodes is of increasing interest, for application to microbial fuel and electrolysis cells. Microbial electrochemical cell technology can be used to generate electricity, or higher value chemicals, from organic waste. The capability of biofilms of electroactive bacteria to transfer electrons to solid anodes is a key feature of this emerging technology, yet the electron transfer mechanism is not fully characterized as yet. Acetate oxidation current generated from biofilms of an EAB, Geobacter sulfurreducens, on graphite electrodes as a function of time does not correlate with film thickness. Values of film thickness, and the number and local concentration of electrically connected redox sites within Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilms as well as a charge transport diffusion co-efficient for the biofilm can be estimated from non-turnover voltammetry. The thicker biofilms, of 50 ± 9 μm, display higher charge transport diffusion co-efficient than that in thinner films, as increased film porosity of these films improves ion transport, required to maintain electro-neutrality upon electrolysis. This journal is

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9039-9046
Journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume16
Issue number19
Early online date26 Mar 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 May 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • General Medicine

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