Fig. 1: The ZnO-C. necator biopiezocatalytic system and demonstration of charge transfer between the piezocatalyst and the microbial cells. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: The ZnO-C. necator biopiezocatalytic system and demonstration of charge transfer between the piezocatalyst and the microbial cells.

From: A biopiezocatalyst harnessing mechanical energy to enhance bioplastic production from CO2 and organic carbon

Fig. 1: The ZnO-C. necator biopiezocatalytic system and demonstration of charge transfer between the piezocatalyst and the microbial cells.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Principle of the a autotrophic and b heterotrophic piezocatalytic ZnO-C. necator hybrid system. Upon mechanical stimulation, ZnO transfers charges to C. necator grown with either atmospheric H2 and CO2 or fructose and provides complementary energy, leading to an increase in the intracellular NADPH/NADP+ ratio and, ultimately, higher PHB production. c SEM micrograph, d Zn and O EDS maps of the hybrid system aggregate. e PFM topography, f piezoresponse butterfly-shaped curve, and hysteresis loop of ZnO-C. necator. g Transient piezoelectric current upon US (96W) of ZnO only and the ZnO-C. necator hybrid. h Nyquist plots and (i) PL spectra of mechanically-stimulated ZnO versus ZnO-C. necator. CBB Calvin-Bassham-Benson cycle, Cn C. necator. The inset on panel h is the proposed equivalent circuit with calculated charge transfer resistance (Rct). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

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