Photoenhanced interfacial electron transfer of a dual functional hematite biophotoelectrode

Chun Hong Mak, Yong Peng, Man Hin Chong, Li Yu, Minshu Du, Li Ji, Xingli Zou, Guizheng Zou, Hsin Hui Shen, Shella Permatasari Santoso, Wenxin Niu, Fang Fang Li, Hsien Yi Hsu

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3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A promising method to boost the effectiveness of bioelectrochemical systems is to combine the light-harvesting properties of semiconductors with the catalytic strength of bacteria. Here, we demonstrate the improved photocurrents generated by the interaction of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and a hematite nanowire-arrayed photoanode in a solar-assisted microbial photoelectrochemical cell (S-MPEC) under visible light. The S-MPEC uses the technology of bioelectrochemical cells and photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) for enhancing the degradation of pollutants from wastewater treatment under irradiation. The bare Fe2O3 photoelectrode exhibits a photocurrent of 1.093 A m−2 at 0.8 V under visible light, whereas the Fe2O3-MR-1 biophotoelectrode exhibits a higher photocurrent of 1.605 A m−2. With visible light exposure at an intensity of less than 100 mW cm−2, the power densities of the Fe2O3 photoelectrode system with and without coating the MR-1 bacteria are 1.284 W m−2 and 0.872 W m−2, respectively. Besides, based on the study of the heterogeneous electron transfer kinetics, the reduction and oxidation reactions of Fe2O3-MR-1 exhibit more efficient diffusion coefficients with enhanced rate constants. These findings demonstrate a significant impact on degradation performance induced by photoexcited charge carriers in a complicated hybrid electricigen system, which is critical for the development of a S-MPEC for waste degradation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)11303-11311
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C
Volume11
Issue number33
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jul 2023

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