Project R-6673

Conductive nanofibers extracted from long marine bacteria: a radically new source material for organic electronics (Research)

Recently, a novel type of filamentous bacteria has been discovered within the seafloor, which are capable of guiding electrical currents over centimeter-scale distances. Electrons are transported from cell-to-cell along the longitudinal axis of centimeter-long cable bacteria, but the actual physical mechanism of conduction remains elusive. The prime objectives of this FWO project are (1) to identify the conductive structures responsible for microbial long-distance transport and (2) to characterize their electrical properties, and (3) their potential for technological applications. Based on recently acquired data, a model is advanced in which thin fibers within the cell envelope act as the conductive structures. Computer model analysis suggests that these nanofiber structures could possess the highest conductivity and charge mobility of any known biological material, making them a promising new source material for organic electronics. In this FWO project, which involves an interdisciplinary collaboration between marine microbiology and applied physics, we will examine whether these fibers are as conductive as projected, confirming their potential of for novel bioelectronic applications. This will be done by a detailed characterization of the physical structure and electronic properties of these nanofibers. When successful, the nanofibers will be integrated into a prototypes of a micro-electronic device, exploring their potential for next generation electronics.

01 January 2016 - 31 December 2019