Three-dimensional conductive conjugated polyelectrolyte gels facilitate interfacial electron transfer for improved biophotovoltaic performance

Zhongxin Chen, Samantha R. McCuskey, Weidong Zhang, Benjamin Rui Peng Yip, Glenn Quek, Yan Jiang, David Ohayon, Shujian Ong, Binu Kundukad, Xianwen Mao and Guillermo C. Bazan ()
Additional contact information
Zhongxin Chen: National University of Singapore
Samantha R. McCuskey: Nanyang Technological University
Weidong Zhang: National University of Singapore
Benjamin Rui Peng Yip: National University of Singapore
Glenn Quek: National University of Singapore
Yan Jiang: National University of Singapore
David Ohayon: National University of Singapore
Shujian Ong: National University of Singapore
Binu Kundukad: Nanyang Technological University
Xianwen Mao: National University of Singapore
Guillermo C. Bazan: National University of Singapore

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Living biophotovoltaics represent a potentially green and sustainable method to generate bio-electricity by harnessing photosynthetic microorganisms. However, barriers to electron transfer across the abiotic/biotic interface hinder solar-to-electricity conversion efficiencies. Herein, we report on a facile method to improve interfacial electron transfer by combining the photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (S. elongatus) with a conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) atop indium tin oxide (ITO) charge-collecting electrodes. By self-assembly of the CPE with S. elongatus, soft and semitransparent S. elongatus/CPE biocomposites are formed with three-dimensional (3D) conductive networks that exhibit mixed ionic-electronic conduction. This specific architecture enhances both the natural and mediated exoelectrogenic pathway from cells to electrodes, enabling improved photocurrent output compared to bacteria alone. Electrochemical studies confirm the improved electron transfer at the biotic-abiotic interface through the CPE. Furthermore, microscopic photocurrent mapping of the biocomposites down to the single-cell level reveals a ~ 0.2 nanoampere output per cell, which translates to a 10-fold improvement relative to that of bare S. elongatus, corroborating efficient electron transport from S. elongatus to the electrode. This synergistic combination of biotic and abiotic materials underpins the improved performance of biophotovoltaic devices, offering broader insights into the electron transfer mechanisms relevant to photosynthesis and bioelectronic systems.

Date: 2025
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61086-5 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-61086-5

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61086-5

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().