Electrochemically active biofilm mediated syntheses of nanoparticles and nanocomposites and their applications

Mohammad Mansoob Khan, Jintae Lee, Moo Hwan Cho

Nanobiotechnology Lab, School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeonsangbukdo 712-749, South Korea

Email: mmansoobkhan@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Microorganisms naturally form biofilm on solid surface. Till now biofilm is considered as detrimental for human health and industrial products. However, recent researches suggest that biofilm has certain properties that can be utilized to catalyze and control the electrochemical reactions in the field of bio- energy, bio-remediation, chemical/ electrochemical synthesis and bio-corrosion. These properties could lead to a wide range of new products and processes. Among the biofilms, electrochemically active biofilms (EABs) generated by electroactive microorganisms have received prodigious attention due to their widespread applications in microbial fuel cell (MFC). Recently, our group has established that EAB can be successfully employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), cys-silver nanoparticles  (Cys-AgNPs),  gold  nanoparticles  (AuNPs)  and  Au@TiO₂  nanocomposite.   These findings  show  that  EAB  is  a  fascinating  tool  for  the  synthesis  of  metal   nanoparticles   and nanocomposites.  The  as-synthesized  nanoparticles  and  nanocomposites  were  utilized  for  antimicrobial activity, dye degradation, photocatalytic and other catalytic  reactions. The EAB mediated syntheses of metal and metal-metal oxide nanocomposites pave a new avenue for greener synthesis of nanoparticles and nanocomposites with high efficiency and rapidity.

Keywords: Electrochemically active biofilm, Ag nanoparticles, Cys-Ag nanoparticles, Gold nanoparticles, Au@TiO₂  nanocomposites

References:

1.   M.M. Khan, S. Kalathil, J. Lee, M.H. Cho, Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 33, 2592, 2012.

2.   S. Kalathil, M.M. Khan, A.N. Banerjee, J. Lee, M.H. Cho, J. Nanopart. Res. 14, 1051, 2012.