Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) nanosheets are the most commonly used cathode materials in commercial lithium-ion batteries. As the production of the material increases, a better understanding of the material-environmental interactions at the end of its life-cycle becomes important. In this study, we examined the molecular impacts to model bacterium Bacillus subtillis, an important player in the terrestrial nutrient cycles, upon exposure to aqueous suspensions of LCO nanosheets at a sub-lethal dosage levels. We examined single cell-level DNA damage, and changes in expression levels of genes related to oxidative stress and DNA repair mechanisms. To address the dynamic process of LCO transformation in aqueous suspensions, we compared the biological impacts when bacterial cells were exposed to both fresh and aged LCO suspensions. We found multiple peroxide-regulation genes in B. subtilis were altered, and DNA damage was observed through a single-cell gel electrophoresis method by observing the formation of DNA lesions. The results suggested molecular-level impacts by LCO to B. subtilis that caused damages to the genome which is likely to lead to cell mortality or mutation.

Investigations of biological and molecular impacts of lithium cobalt oxide nanosheets to model bacterium, Bacillus subtilis

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.