Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes for Bioelectrochemical Technologies

In bioelectronics, living systems interface with non-living electrical components. Specifically in microbial systems, anaerobic bacteria exchange electrons with electrodes forming the basis for microbial fuel cells for wastewater remediation and bioelectrosynthesis platforms where microbes produce desired chemical products. However, our ability to utilize electroactive microbial communities is limited by inefficient interfacial contacts. Three-dimensional abiotic/biotic composites that combine a soft conductive conjugated polyelectrolyte gel matrix with electroactive bacteria will increase our ability to extract current from, or to electronically stimulate, microbial communities. Our work coordinates principles from chemical synthesis, materials engineering, and electromicrobiology to establish a foundation for new living materials.