Photo-electrochemical communication between cyanobacteria (Leptolyngbia sp.) and osmium redox polymer modified electrodes

Abstract

Photosynthetic microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) are an emerging technology for renewable solar energy conversion. Major efforts have been made to explore the electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria, mostly using practically unsustainable reagents. Here we report on photocurrent generation (≈8.64 μA cm⁻²) from cyanobacteria immobilized on electrodes modified with an efficient electron mediator, an Os^2+/3+ redox polymer. Upon addition of ferricyanide to the electrolyte, cyanobacteria generate the maximum current density of ≈48.2 μA cm⁻².