Single cell electron collectors for highly efficient wiring-up electronic abiotic/biotic interfaces

Area of Science:

• Bioelectrochemistry
• Cellular Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) offer high efficiency for energy harvesting and chemical synthesis by interfacing living cells with abiotic conductive surfaces.
• Current methods face challenges in achieving the necessary close contact and large interfacial area for efficient electron transfer between cells and materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel single cell electron collector concept for improved bioelectrochemical systems (BES).
• To overcome limitations in interfacial engineering for cell-material electronic connections.

Main Methods:

• In-situ construction of an interconnected conductive layer directly on and across individual cell membranes.
• Formation of intimate contact between the electron collector and cellular electron transfer machinery.

Main Results:

• Achieved record-high interfacial electron transfer efficiency.
• Significantly enhanced overall bioelectrochemical systems (BES) performance.
• Demonstrated effective single-cell level wiring of living cells with abiotic surfaces.

Conclusions:

• The single cell electron collector provides a superior method for interfacing living cells with abiotic surfaces.
• This approach enables new possibilities for abiotic/biotic interface engineering at the single-cell level.