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Table 2 Overpotentials for a representative set of biological electron transfer systems

From: Electrical energy storage with engineered biological systems

Microorganism

Reactions

Electron flowa

Estimated applied electrode potential (V. vs. SHE)

Assumed acceptorb

Estimated electrode overpotential (V)c

Biofilm thickness (μm) or cell density (OD unit)

Cathode material

Electron transport mechanism

Reference

Geobactor sulfurreducens strain DL-1

Fumarate to succinate

Cathodic

-0.3

Mtr EET Complex

≈ 0.2

35

Graphite

EET

Ueki et al. [63]

Geobactor sulfurreducens

Fumarate to succinate

Cathodic

-0.3

Mtr EET Complex

≈ 0.2

12

Graphite

EET

Strycharz-Glaven et al. [139]

Geobacter sulfurreducens

Acetate to electricity

Anodic

0.3

Mtr EET Complex

≈ 0.4

40

Graphite

EET

Reguera et al. [140]

Sporomusa ovata

CO2 to acetate

Cathodic

-0.4

Mtr EET Complex

≈ 0.3

12

Graphite

EET

Nevin et al. [141]

Mariprofundus ferrooxydans

Fe3+/Fe2+

Cathodic

-0.076

Mtr EET Complex

-

Initial OD = 0.01

Graphite

EET

Summers et al. [142]

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Lactate, Cr5+/Cr6+

Anodic

0.3

Mtr EET Complex

-

Initial OD = 0.3

Graphite

EET

Xafenias et al. [143]

Acetobacterium spp + Rhodobacteraceae

CO2 to acetate

Cathodic

-0.59

H2

≈ 0.17

0.5

Graphite

H2

Marshall et al. [144]

Ralstonia eutropha

CO2 to isobutanol

Cathodic

-1.4

H2 and Formate

≈ 1

Initial OD = 0.8-1

Indium foil

H2 and Formate

Li et al. [43]

Ralstonia eutropha

CO2 to biomass and PHB

Cathodic

-0.6

H2

≈ 0.2

Initial OD = 0.2

Co-P alloy

H2

Liu et al. [45]

  1. aCathodic electron flow refers to electron flow from cathode to microbial metabolism, whereas anodic flow indicates electron flow from metabolism towards an anode. b and cThe electrode overpotential is estimated by subtracting the estimated applied electrode potential from the assumed electron acceptor potential at pH 7 (Mtr EET Complex, E = -0.1 V vs SHE; H2, E = -0.42 V vs. SHE; Formate, E = -0.43 V vs. SHE). References [43, 45, 63, 139,140,141,142,143,144] were used to compile this table