초록
<P>Microbial electrosynthesis cells (MECs) are devices wherein microorganisms can electrochemically interact with electrodes, directly donating or accepting electrons from electrode surfaces. Here, we developed a novel cathode by using nickel nanowires anchored to graphite for the improvement of microbial-catalyzed reduction in MEC cathode chamber. This porous nickel-nanowire-network-coated graphite electrode increased the interfacial area and interfacial interactions between the cathode surface and the microbial biofilm. A 2.3 fold increase in bio-reduction rate over the untreated graphite was observed. Around 282 mM day<SUP>−1</SUP> m<SUP>−2</SUP> of acetate resulting from the bio-reduction of carbon dioxide by <I>Sporomusa</I> was produced with 82 ± 14% of the electrons consumed being recovered in acetate.</P><BR><BR><P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>A novel cathode, nickel nanowire coated graphite, was developed to increase reduction rate of CO<SUB>2</SUB> in microbial electrosynthesis cells.<BR><IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=c3cp52697f'><BR></P>