Abstract
Microbial electrochemical systems are a fast emerging technology that use microorganisms to harvest the chemical energy from bioorganic materials to produce electrical power. Due to their flexibility and the wide variety of materials that can be used as a source, these devices show promise for applications in many fields including energy, environment and sensing. Microbial electrochemical systems rely on the integration of microbial cells, bioelectrochemistry, material science and electrochemical technologies to achieve effective conversion of the chemical energy stored in organic materials into electrical power. Therefore, the interaction between microorganisms and electrodes and their operation at physiological important potentials are critical for their development. This article provides an overview of the principles and applications of microbial electrochemical systems, their development status and potential for implementation in the biosensing field. It also provides a discussion of the recent developments in the selection of electrode materials to improve electron transfer using nanomaterials along with challenges for achieving practical implementation, and examples of applications in the biosensing field.
Highlights
Accepted: 4 February 2021Microbial electrochemical system (MES) is a promising fast expanding technology that integrates microbial systems, electrochemistry and materials science to develop energy, environment and sensing devices [1]
A critical requirement for the development of MESs is to achieve effective integration and facilitate electron transfer between microorganisms and the electrode surface, which are fundamental to their performance
Based on the nature of these interactions, MESs can use processes that involve: (i) extracellular electron transfer in which the electrode potential lies within the physiological range of the microorganisms and rely primarily on Faraday processes and, (ii) indirect interactions in which the microbial environment is controlled by electrochemical processes [3]
Summary
Microbial electrochemical system (MES) is a promising fast expanding technology that integrates microbial systems, electrochemistry and materials science to develop energy, environment and sensing devices [1]. Based on the nature of these interactions, MESs can use processes that involve: (i) extracellular electron transfer (primary MES) in which the electrode potential lies within the physiological range of the microorganisms and rely primarily on Faraday processes (e.g., microbial electrocatalysis through extracellular electron transfer) and, (ii) indirect interactions in which the microbial environment (metabolite, pH, oxygen pressure, etc.) is controlled by electrochemical processes [3] For these processes to take place, the microbial system should be in close vicinity of the electrochemical system and the system needs to be integrated into a reactor that ideally would require low operation and maintenance. This article reviews the principles of MES, their development status and promise for implementation in the biosensing field
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