Carbon nanograss and osmium redox polymer enhance biophotovoltaic current generation from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 forty-fold
(2026) In Journal of Power Sources 676.- Abstract
Pyrolytic carbon derived from thermosetting polymer precursors is a promising electrode material for bioelectrochemical applications due to its structural robustness, chemical stability, biocompatibility, and amenability to surface modification. Crucially, it allows the integration of diverse nano- and microstructures on the electrode surface. In this study, we introduce pyrolytic carbon nanograss (CNG) electrodes fabricated from SU-8 photoresist as a novel and scalable platform for biophotovoltaic (BPV) applications. Using the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 as a photobiocatalyst, we evaluate biophotocurrent generation both in the absence and presence of an osmium redox polymer mediator. The CNG structures, with tunable... (More)
Pyrolytic carbon derived from thermosetting polymer precursors is a promising electrode material for bioelectrochemical applications due to its structural robustness, chemical stability, biocompatibility, and amenability to surface modification. Crucially, it allows the integration of diverse nano- and microstructures on the electrode surface. In this study, we introduce pyrolytic carbon nanograss (CNG) electrodes fabricated from SU-8 photoresist as a novel and scalable platform for biophotovoltaic (BPV) applications. Using the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 as a photobiocatalyst, we evaluate biophotocurrent generation both in the absence and presence of an osmium redox polymer mediator. The CNG structures, with tunable lengths, significantly increase the electroactive surface area compared to planar carbon electrodes. This enhancement, combined with the redox polymer, leads to a remarkable 40-fold increase in biophotocurrent output for the longest nanograss structures. Additionally, the nanostructured surfaces improve bacterial cell retention and promote stable electron transfer. Importantly, the bioanodes exhibit excellent operational stability under prolonged high-intensity illumination, highlighting their robustness. The simple and scalable microfabrication of CNG electrodes positions pyrolytic carbon as a compelling candidate for next-generation microbial solar cells.
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- author
- Urbankova, Jitka ; Pankratova, Galina LU ; Rezaei, Babak ; Bombelli, Paolo ; Leech, Dónal ; Howe, Christopher J. ; Emnéus, Jenny LU and Keller, Stephan Sylvest
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Biophotovoltaics, Cyanobacteria, Microbial solar cell, Pyrolytic carbon, Synechocystissp. PCC 6803
- in
- Journal of Power Sources
- volume
- 676
- article number
- 239928
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105034586759
- ISSN
- 0378-7753
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.239928
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- id
- 320e2e59-d47a-4b2a-90b9-9d073aa9fcf3
- date added to LUP
- 2026-05-26 15:08:59
- date last changed
- 2026-05-26 15:09:40
@article{320e2e59-d47a-4b2a-90b9-9d073aa9fcf3,
abstract = {{<p>Pyrolytic carbon derived from thermosetting polymer precursors is a promising electrode material for bioelectrochemical applications due to its structural robustness, chemical stability, biocompatibility, and amenability to surface modification. Crucially, it allows the integration of diverse nano- and microstructures on the electrode surface. In this study, we introduce pyrolytic carbon nanograss (CNG) electrodes fabricated from SU-8 photoresist as a novel and scalable platform for biophotovoltaic (BPV) applications. Using the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 as a photobiocatalyst, we evaluate biophotocurrent generation both in the absence and presence of an osmium redox polymer mediator. The CNG structures, with tunable lengths, significantly increase the electroactive surface area compared to planar carbon electrodes. This enhancement, combined with the redox polymer, leads to a remarkable 40-fold increase in biophotocurrent output for the longest nanograss structures. Additionally, the nanostructured surfaces improve bacterial cell retention and promote stable electron transfer. Importantly, the bioanodes exhibit excellent operational stability under prolonged high-intensity illumination, highlighting their robustness. The simple and scalable microfabrication of CNG electrodes positions pyrolytic carbon as a compelling candidate for next-generation microbial solar cells.</p>}},
author = {{Urbankova, Jitka and Pankratova, Galina and Rezaei, Babak and Bombelli, Paolo and Leech, Dónal and Howe, Christopher J. and Emnéus, Jenny and Keller, Stephan Sylvest}},
issn = {{0378-7753}},
keywords = {{Biophotovoltaics; Cyanobacteria; Microbial solar cell; Pyrolytic carbon; Synechocystissp. PCC 6803}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Journal of Power Sources}},
title = {{Carbon nanograss and osmium redox polymer enhance biophotovoltaic current generation from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 forty-fold}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.239928}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.239928}},
volume = {{676}},
year = {{2026}},
}