Interfacing Cytogenic Electrons with Conductive Nanomaterials: Energetics and Electron-Transport

A synergistic, nanoscale electrical-interface with the membranes of exoelectrogenic microbes will have transformative impact on biological cell based electronic-devices. Here, it is reported that a conformal graphenic interface on biocatalytic Geobacter sulfurreducens membrane results in quantum-capacitance induced n-doping in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) that further enhances electron shuttling from the membrane to improve electron harvesting from the electrogenic organism. Next, cytogenic electrons from a bacterial source have been limited in their application to energy devices. By interfacing the electrogenic bacteria with graphene nano-dots (GNDs) we designed a route for self-induced phononic enhancement by selectively directing electrons to targeted molecules. Finally, the combination of graphene’s interfacial and phononic properties has led to the realization of a clean signal transducer. Leveraging graphene’s biocompatibility, electronic sensitivity, and known phononic characterization facilitates the study of the electrokinectics of the nano-bio interface for single cell resolution of electrogenic bacteria.