Bacterial-Polyhydroxybutyrate for Biocompatible Microbial Electrodes

Abstract

The development of bioelectrochemical systems requires careful selection of both their biotic and abiotic components to obtain sustainable devices. Herein, we report a biophotoelectrode obtained with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biopolymer, which purple non-sulphur bacteria produce as an energy stock under specific environmental conditions. The electrode was obtained by casting a mixture composed of PHB and carbon fibers in a 3:2 mass ratio. Following, the composite material was modified with polydopamine and thermally treated to obtain a hydrophilic electrode with improved electrochemical behavior. The bio-based electrode was tested with metabolically active cells of Rhodobacter capsulatus embedded in a biohybrid matrix of polydopamine. The system achieved enhanced catalytic activity under illumination, with an 18-fold increase in photocurrent production compared to biophotoelectrodes based on glassy carbon, reaching a current density of 12 ± 3 μA cm−2, after 30 min of light exposure at +0.32 V. The presented biocompatible electrode provides a sustainable alternative to metal-based and critical raw material-based electrodes for bioelectrochemical systems.