A miniaturized bionic ocean-battery mimicking the structure of marine microbial ecosystems

Huawei Zhu, Liru Xu, Guodong Luan, Tao Zhan, Zepeng Kang, Chunli Li, Xuefeng Lu (), Xueli Zhang (), Zhiguang Zhu (), Yanping Zhang () and Yin Li ()
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Huawei Zhu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Liru Xu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Guodong Luan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tao Zhan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zepeng Kang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chunli Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xuefeng Lu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xueli Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhiguang Zhu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yanping Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yin Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Marine microbial ecosystems can be viewed as a huge ocean-battery charged by solar energy. It provides a model for fabricating bio-solar cell, a bioelectrochemical system that converts light into electricity. Here, we fabricate a bio-solar cell consisting of a four-species microbial community by mimicking the ecological structure of marine microbial ecosystems. We demonstrate such ecological structure consisting of primary producer, primary degrader, and ultimate consumers is essential for achieving high power density and stability. Furthermore, the four-species microbial community is assembled into a spatial-temporally compacted cell using conductive hydrogel as a sediment-like anaerobic matrix, forming a miniaturized bionic ocean-battery. This battery directly converts light into electricity with a maximum power of 380 μW and stably operates for over one month. Reproducing the photoelectric conversion function of marine microbial ecosystems in this bionic battery overcomes the sluggish and network-like electron transfer, showing the biotechnological potential of synthetic microbial ecology.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33358-x

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