Using bacteria to produce metal nanoclusters could be a greener and more efficient way to produce precious catalysts used in industry.
via KAUST; Anastasia Serin.
An electroactive bacterium generates well-defined nanosized metal catalysts with remarkable water-splitting performance.
A biological method that produces metal nanoclusters using the electroactive bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens could provide a cheap and sustainable solution to high-performance catalyst synthesis for various applications such as water splitting.
Metal nanoclusters contain fewer than one hundred atoms and are much smaller than nanoparticles. They have unique electronic properties but also feature numerous active sites available for catalysis on their surface. There are several synthetic methods for making metal nanoclusters, but most require multiple steps involving toxic substances and harsh temperature and pressure conditions.
Biological methods are expected to deliver ecofriendly alternatives to conventional chemical synthesis. Yet, to date, they have only led to large nanoparticles in a wide range of sizes. “We found a way to control the size of the nanoclusters,” says Rodrigo Jimenez-Sandoval, a Ph.D. candidate in Pascal Saikaly‘s group at KAUST.
Having previously shown that the surface of electroactive bacterial cells could serve as a support for single metal atoms, Saikaly’s team explored the creation of biohybrid materials. These consisted of palladium nanoclusters anchored to the bacterial surface of G. sulfurreducens cells. This bacterium, readily found in soil, can transfer electrons to metals present outside the cell and can also conduct electricity when grown on an electrode of a microbial electrochemical system. In this project, it acted as a reducing agent and a conductive scaffold for the nanoclusters.
Drawing from nanoparticle chemical synthesis, the researchers decided to control the metal precursor concentration in their setup, and their attempt paid off, Jimenez-Sandoval says. “To come up with this idea, we had to think of G. sulfurreducens as a chemical entity instead of a biological entity.”
They discovered that adding the metal precursor step by step was the key to fine-tuning nanocluster size and distribution and, ultimately, catalytic performance.
As a proof of concept, the researchers evaluated the catalytic performance of the as-synthesized nanoclusters anchored to the bacterial surface for the overall water-splitting reaction, which involves electrochemically breaking down water into gaseous hydrogen and oxygen. The nanoclusters outperformed benchmark platinum- and iridium-based catalysts used for the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in alkaline solutions.
“These results have very important implications in real life applications because a catalyst synthesized with a biological method is not only cheaper and simpler but also greener,” Jimenez-Sandoval says.
The team is now working to produce a biohybrid catalyst that does not rely on noble metals but a more abundant and cheaper material to enhance the sustainability of their strategy.
Original Article: Bacterial route to cleaner catalysis
More from: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Bacterium generated nanosized metal catalysts
- Scientists Solve Electrochemical “Catalysis vs Corrosion” Mystery
Engineers from Pitt, Drexel, and Brookhaven have solved the "catalysis vs corrosion" mystery in electrochemical ozone production. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Drexel University in ...
- Metal Archives Bans AI-Generated Music
As music created by artificial intelligence continues to rise, so does the rightful push back by actual human artists who are putting in the work (and getting ripped off by having their creations ...
- Nanoparticle catalysts convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide to make useful compounds
As a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2) contributes to climate change as it accumulates in the atmosphere. One way to reduce the amount of unwanted CO2 in the atmosphere is to convert the gas into a ...
- Possible alternative to antibiotics produced by bacteria
Many bacteria produce substances to gain an advantage over competitors in their highly competitive natural environment. Researchers have discovered a new so-called lantibiotic, namely epilancin A37.
- Bacteria 'nanowires' could help develop green electronics
Engineered protein filaments originally produced by bacteria have been modified by scientists to conduct electricity. In a study published recently in the journal Small, researchers revealed that ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Water splitting
- Moscow begins water system flushing
The city of Moscow is assuring the community not to be alarmed by water in the roadway during its routine water system flushing over the next couple of weeks.
- Why Coca-Cola Consolidated Might Opt for a Stock Split in 2024
Cola Company (NYSE: KO) has epitomized American culture with its iconic Coca-Cola beverage, which has transcended borders to become a symbol recognized and revered worldwide. However, the company’s ...
- World’s most efficient water electrolyzer prepares to be mass-produced
Unlike wind and solar power, which we cannot control, hydrogen generated by splitting water can be used according to energy demands. Hydrogen can also be produced in an environmentally ...
- Land rights vs. water needs pits property owners against Texas city
Lake Ringgold — gets a hearing Friday before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Wichita Falls area ...
- Why Shares in This Water Infrastructure Company Soared This Week
Mueller Water Products was another water infrastructure company that reported excellent results recently. Shares in Mueller Water Products ( MWA 0.57%) rose 18.1% in the week as of Friday morning. The ...