Next-Generation Bioelectrochemical Systems: Bridging Synthetic Biology and Green Electronics to Harvest Renewable Energy

Özet

With a rise in the world's energy demand and fossil fuel dependency, there has been an urgent need for sustainable and renewable power systems. In this mini-review, recent developments in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs), i.e., microbial fuel cells (MFCs), enzymatic bio-batteries, and photobioelectrochemical platforms integrating synthetic biology and nanotechnology for power generation are discussed. These systems exploit the electrochemical potential of microbial metabolism and enzymatic redox reactions to generate electricity from organic substrates, wastewater, and sunlight. The review is focused on genetic engineering of electroactive microbes, designer enzymes for optimal electron transfer, and nanostructured electrodes for improved efficiency and scalability. It also briefly discusses real-world applications including biosensing, remote power generation, and wastewater treatment with simultaneous energy recovery. The capacity to utilize them as components of decentralized low-carbon energy systems makes them a viable solution to both energy access and environmental sustainability in the climate crisis context.