Electrochemical communication between living cells and conductive surfaces

Abstract

Over the past decades great attention has been paid to the phenomenon of microorganisms’ ability to transfer electrons between their metabolism and solid conductive surfaces. This fact keeps potential to gain extensive reliance for applications including electricity production coupled to wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and synthesis of value products. Effective electrochemical communication directly or via various mediated systems between microorganisms and electrodes is a challenge of fundamental interdisciplinary research. The present review discusses the main critical factors affecting efficient electrochemical “wiring” living cells to conductive electrode surfaces, including the molecular mechanism that makes electron exchange possible for various microorganisms, utilization of different types of mediators and new electrode materials to enhance microbial kinetics as opposed to other bioelectrochemical systems based on purified enzymes 1. , 2. .