Nanomaterials for facilitating microbial extracellular electron transfer: Recent progress and challenges

Peng Zhang; Jia Liu; Youpeng Qu; Da Li; Weihua He; Yujie Feng

doi:10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.05.005

Nanomaterials for facilitating microbial extracellular electron transfer: Recent progress and challenges

Bioelectrochemistry. 2018 Oct:123:190-200. doi: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.05.005. Epub 2018 May 5.

Authors

Peng Zhang¹, Jia Liu², Youpeng Qu³, Da Li¹, Weihua He¹, Yujie Feng⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China. Electronic address: jialiu@hit.edu.cn.
³ School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 2 Yikuang Street, Nangang District, Harbin 150080, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China. Electronic address: yujief@hit.edu.cn.

PMID: 29800809
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.05.005

Abstract

Nanomaterials for facilitating the microbial extracellular electron transfer (EET) process have drawn increasing attention due to their specific physical, chemical and electrical properties. This review summarizes the research advances of nanomaterials for accelerating the EET process. Nanostructured materials, including oligomer, carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, metal, metal oxides, and polymer, exhibit numerous admirable properties such as large surface area, high electrical conductivity, and excellent catalytic activity. In this review, depending on the exact site where the nanomaterials work, the nanomaterials are classified into four groups: inside-membrane, interface, inside-biofilm and interspecies. Synthesis of the nanomaterials, EET enhancement performance, and corresponding enhancement mechanisms are also discussed. In spite of the challenges, nanomaterials will be extremely promising for promoting the EET process application in the future.

Keywords: Extracellular electron transfer; Inside-biofilm; Inside-membrane; Interface; Interspecie; Nanomaterials.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bacteria / metabolism*
Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
Biofilms
Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation
Electrochemical Techniques / methods*
Electron Transport*
Electrons
Equipment Design
Nanostructures / chemistry*
Nanostructures / ultrastructure
Nanotechnology / methods*