Enhancement of light-driven electricity generation by cyanobacteria: en-route to biosolar panels

Abstract:: Some species of cyanobacteria have been found to be able to convert light into an extracellular flow of electrons that can be used to drive an anodic current. This remarkable property paves the way towards the development of biological solar panels for the efficient conversion of sunlight to renewable electricity. This proposal will address the questions of which species are especially active with this type of metabolism and what mechanisms lie behind the fascinating microbe-electrode electrical interaction. The outcomes of this project will be (i) the generation of a body of fundamental knowledge in a previously obscure metabolic feature of phototrophic life and (ii) the generation of the first entirely biologically catalysed solar panel.
Grant type:: ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
Funded by:: Australian Research Council

The University of Queensland