Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Probing Electron Transfer Mechanisms In Shewanella Oneidensis Mr-1 Using A Nanoelectrode Platform And Single-Cell Imaging, Ziaocheng Jiang, Jinsong Hu, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Justin C. Biffinger, Ping Xie, Bradley R. Ringeisen, Charles M. Lieber

U.S. Navy Research

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a promising approach for sustainable energy production as they generate electricity directly from metabolism of organic substrates without the need for catalysts. However, the mechanisms of electron transfer between microbes and electrodes, which could ultimately limit power extraction, remain controversial. Here we demonstrate optically transparent nanoelectrodes as a platform to investigate extracellular electron transfer in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, where an array of nanoholes precludes or single window allows for direct microbeelectrode contacts. Following addition of cells, short-circuit current measurements showed similar amplitude and temporal response for both electrode configurations, while in situ optical imaging demonstrates …