Microbial Fuel Cells We have found that dissimilatory metal-reducing microorganisms,
such as Geobacter and Rhodoferax species, have the novel ability to directly
transfer electrons to the surface of electrodes. This had led to the construction
of microbial fuel cells that are superior to previously described microbial
fuel cells in that: 1) they are much more efficient; 2) they do not require
the addition of the toxic electron shuttling mediator compounds employed in
previously described microbial fuel cells; 3) they have remarkable long-term
stability; and 4) it is possible to harvest electricity from many types of
waste organic matter or renewable biomass. Immediate application of these
microbial fuel cells will be for powering electronic monitoring devices in
remote locations, such as the bottom of the ocean. However, many other applications
are possible. Current research is focusing on elucidating the mechanisms of
electron transfer between the microorganisms and the electrode in order to
design better electrodes or genetically engineer better microbes for higher
rates of electricity production.
[Sediment Battery Preparation | .pdf (177 KB)]
References
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Videos Photos (click on thumbnail for full size image)
Dr. Sarah Strycharz with marine sediment fuel cell powered robot
Dr. Ashley Franks demonstrates toy bat powered by marine sediment fuel cell
Sean Covalla with the electric bat
Jenny Richards takes a measurement of electrodes in an artificial rice paddy
Dr. Kelly Nevin takes an H-cell out for analysis
Dr. Kelly Nevin takes a reading from a mini-stack
Prof. Derek Lovely with a marine sediment fuel cell
Marine sediment fuel cell powered toy SUV makes tracks
Press Releases, Wire Stories, and Media Coverage 2007-01-10:
Bug Powered Batteries (PBS Science Investigators)
2004-04-22:
Mud Is Making Waves - Electrical Ones (Chronicle, WCVB-TV5)
2003-12-16:
Bacterial Batteries (Real Media) (ScienCentral.com)
2003-12-16:
Bacterial Batteries (QuickTime) (ScienCentral.com)
2007-06-01:
Microbes Power Up (MicrobeWorld Radio)
2005-06-22:
Radio spot on Geobacter , electricity production, and nanowires (WFCR FM-88.5)
2004-05-20:
Geobacter: Creating Electricity From Mud (Pulse of the Planet)
2004-03-14:
Electricity from Mud (WTOP News on Engineering)
2003-10-08:
Bacterial Batteries (Science Update)
2007-12-06:
Bacterias generadoras de electricidad (El Faro (UNAM))
2007-08-30:
Green Energy: Eco-Friendly Batteries (Time Magazine)
2007-05-15:
Harnessing the Power of Microbes (BioCycle, May 2007, Vol. 48, No. 5)
2007-05-15:
Power In Space: Time For A Biological Solution (Space Daily)
2006-06-06:
Fuel cell power (FuelCellWorks)
2006-06-05:
The Tiniest Power Plants: Scientists are seeing a host of possibilities in electricity produced by microbes (Business Week)
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