Work

100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Soft Materials for Microbial Bioelectronics

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Bioelectronics brings together the fields of biology and microelectronics to create multifunctional devices with the potential to address longstanding technological challenges and change our way of life. Microbial electrochemical devices are a growing subset of bioelectronic devices that incorporate naturally occurring or synthetically engineered microbes into electronic devices and have broad applications including energy harvesting, chemical production, water remediation, and environmental and health monitoring. The goal of this Viewpoint is to highlight recent advances and ongoing challenges in the rapidly developing field of microbial bioelectronic devices, with an emphasis on materials challenges. We provide an overview of microbial bioelectronic devices, discuss the biotic-abiotic interface in these devices, and then present recent advances and ongoing challenges in materials related to electron transfer across the abiotic-biotic interface, microbial adhesion, redox signaling, electronic amplification, and device miniaturization. We conclude with a summary and perspective of the field of microbial bioelectronics.

Source: ACS Macro Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00573

Authors: Chia-Ping Tseng, Jonathan J. Silberg, George N. Bennett, Rafael Verduzco

Institution: Rice University

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,000

Funders: Welch Foundation, Office of Naval Research, Division of Graduate Education, Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems