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Disentangling extracellular current of electroactive bacteria with oblique-incidence reflection difference imaging

Author

Listed:
  • Shiwu Qian

    (Southwest University
    Ministry of Education
    Chongqing Key Laboratory of Battery Materials and Technology)

  • Chenyu Wang

    (Southwest University
    Chongqing Key Laboratory of Battery Materials and Technology)

  • Changxiang Fang

    (Southwest University
    Chongqing Key Laboratory of Battery Materials and Technology)

  • Meng Li

    (Southwest University
    Ministry of Education
    Chongqing Key Laboratory of Battery Materials and Technology)

  • Yan Qiao

    (Southwest University
    Chongqing Key Laboratory of Battery Materials and Technology)

  • Weihua Hu

    (Southwest University
    Ministry of Education
    Chongqing Key Laboratory of Battery Materials and Technology)

Abstract

Understanding the extracellular electron transfer (EET) process of electroactive bacteria is of great significance. It is critical yet challenging to differentiate the partial currents from direct (DET) and mediated electron transfer (MET) pathways in the integrated EET current. Herein the EET current of model exoelectrogen is successfully disentangled by using spatiotemporally-resolved oblique-incidence reflection difference (OIRD) technique coupled with polyaniline (PANI)-based dual electrode. The PANI film serves as an electron acceptor to translate the charge information into OIRD signals, enabling mapping of EET current. Upon complete reduction of PANI, the local EET current is switched off, and the soluble mediators are forced to discharge on the nearby PANI electrode, enabling measuring of MET current. In such a way, the DET and MET currents are measured and the average currents from each bacterium are quantified. As-reported method enables successful disentangling the EET current and may offer valuable insights to related research.

Suggested Citation

  • Shiwu Qian & Chenyu Wang & Changxiang Fang & Meng Li & Yan Qiao & Weihua Hu, 2025. "Disentangling extracellular current of electroactive bacteria with oblique-incidence reflection difference imaging," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62467-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62467-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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