Electron transfer process from marine biofilms to graphite electrodes in seawater

Abstract

It is known that electron transfer processes exist between microorganisms and electrodes. Many anaerobic bacteria, which can transfer electrons to solid electrodes, had been identified. However, little attention has been paid to the interactions between aerobic biofilms and electrodes. In this study, marine biofilms formation on graphite electrodes was characterized by open circuit potential and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Electron transfer between marine aerobic biofilms and graphite electrodes was investigated primarily by cyclic voltammograms and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Herein, we suggest that marine biofilms are a kind of conductive biofilms that can transfer electrons to graphite electrodes under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Some cytochrome species in bacterial biofilms may play a key role in the electron transfer process.