电化学联用技术研究微生物的胞外电子传递机制

胞外电子传递（EET）是指氧化还原反应所产生的电子在微生物细胞内和细胞外的电子受体/电子供体之间互相转移的过程,这一过程伴随着能量和物质的转化。阐明EET机制是提高微生物能量和物质转化效率的基础,为元素的生物地球化学循环、金属防腐以及生物电化学系统的应用等提供理论支撑。电化学技术作为研究电极/溶液界面电子转移的简便、有效方法,在研究微生物的直接电子传递和间接电子传递机制中发挥了重要的作用,也促进了EET机制的研究从宏观层面到微观层面不断深入。本文综述了研究微生物EET机制所涉及的电化学联用技术（包括微电极、扫描电化学显微镜、电化学联用光学显微镜和光谱电化学等）;详细介绍了这些电化学联用技术的功能和优势;重点阐述了这些电化学联用技术如何推动着EET机制的研究,从宏观的生物膜层面到微观的单个微生物细胞、蛋白和分子层面不断深入;展望了新的电化学联用技术在EET研究领域的应用前景。     

Super-fast Charging Biohybrid Batteries through a Power-to-formate-to-bioelectricity Process by Combining Microbial Electrochemistry and CO2 Electrolysis

Extensive study on renewable energy storage has been sparked by the growing worries regarding global warming. In this study, incorporating the latest advancements in microbial electrochemistry and electrochemical CO₂ reduction, a super-fast charging biohybrid battery was introduced by using pure formic acid as an energy carrier. CO₂ electrolyser with a slim-catholyte layer and a solid electrolyte layer was built, which made it possible to use affordable anion exchange membranes and electrocatalysts that are readily accessible. The biohybrid battery only required a 3-minute charging to accomplish an astounding 25-hour discharging phase. In the power-to-formate-to-bioelectricity process, bioconversion played a vital role in restricting both the overall Faradaic efficiency and Energy efficiency. The CO₂ electrolyser was able to operate continuously for an impressive total duration of 164 hours under Gas Stand-By model, by storing N₂ gas in the extraction chamber during stand-by periods. Additionally, the electric signal generated during the discharging phase was utilized for monitoring water biotoxicity. Functional genes related to formate metabolism were identified in the bioanode and electrochemically active bacteria were discovered. On the other hand, Paracoccus was predominantly found in the used air cathode. These results advance our current knowledge of exploiting biohybrid technology.