Optically accessible microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have, in the past, been used to determine the current produced on a per cell basis in the very early stages of anode colonization. Using similar MFC devices inoculated with S. oneidensis we show real-time biofilm formation on carbon-fiber electrodes (i.e. individual tows from woven carbon fiber cloth) from the initial stages of biofilm formation through to mature biofilms. Optically accessible MFCs offer a window into the dynamic anode-associated microbial communities and may help optimize materials and pretreatments for enhanced electrochemical performance.  Acknowledgements: Funding for this research provided by Synthetic Genomics Inc.

Real-time biofilm dynamics in a microbial fuel cell revealed by confocal laser scanning microscopy

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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