Article Title

Enhancing bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cells and biophotovoltaics using nanomaterials

Authors

Mohammed Mouhib, Laboratory of NanoBiotechnology (LNB), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
Alessandra Antonucci, Laboratory of NanoBiotechnology (LNB), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
Melania Reggente, Laboratory of NanoBiotechnology (LNB), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
Amirmostafa Amirjani, Laboratory of NanoBiotechnology (LNB), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran 1591634311, Iran
Alice J. Gillen, Laboratory of NanoBiotechnology (LNB), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
Ardemis A.Boghossian, Laboratory of NanoBiotechnology (LNB), Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland

Keywords

biophotovoltaics, extracellular electron transfer, microbial fuel cell, bioelectricity, energy

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells and biophotovoltaics represent promising technologies for green bioelectricity generation. However, these devices suffer from low durability and efficiency that stem from their reliance on living organisms to act as catalysts. Such limitations can be overcome with augmented capabilities enabled by nanotechnology. This review presents an overview of the different nanomaterials used to enhance bioelectricity generation through improved light harvesting, extracellular electron transfer, and anode performance. The implementation of nanomaterials in whole-cell energy devices holds promise in developing bioelectrical devices that are suitable for industry.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-019-2438-0

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Mohammed Mouhib,Alessandra Antonucci,Melania Reggente,Amirmostafa Amirjani,Alice J. Gillen,Ardemis A. Boghossian, Enhancing bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cells and biophotovoltaics using nanomaterials. NanoRes.2019, 12(9): 2184–2199