Electricity generation by Geobacter sulfurreducens attached to gold electrodes.

TitleElectricity generation by Geobacter sulfurreducens attached to gold electrodes.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsRichter H, McCarthy K, Nevin KP, Johnson JP, Rotello VM, Lovley DR
JournalLangmuir
Volume24
Issue8
Pagination4376-9
Date Published2008 Apr 15
ISSN0743-7463
KeywordsElectrodes, Electrons, Geobacter, Gold, Microscopy, Confocal, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Surface Properties
Abstract

The versatility of gold for electrode manufacture suggests that it could be an ideal material for some microbial fuel cell applications. However, previous studies have suggested that microorganisms that readily transfer electrons to graphite do not transfer electrons to gold. Investigations with Geobacter sulfurreducens demonstrated that it could grow on gold anodes producing current nearly as effectively as with graphite anodes. Current production was associated with the development of G. sulfurreducens biofilms up to 40 microm thick. No current was produced if pilA, the gene for the structural protein of the conductive pili of G. sulfurreducens, was deleted. The finding that gold is a suitable anode material for microbial fuel cells offers expanded possibilities for the construction of microbial fuel cells and the electrochemical analysis of microbe-electrode interactions.

DOI10.1021/la703469y
Alternate JournalLangmuir
PubMed ID18303924