Electrogenic performance and carbon sequestration potential of biophotovoltaics

Abstract

Biophotovoltaics (BPV) is a clean and sustainable solar energy generation technology that operates by utilizing photosynthetic autotrophic microorganisms to capture light energy and generate electricity. However, a major challenge faced by BPV systems is the relatively low electron transfer efficiency from the photosystem to the extracellular electrode, which limits its electrical output. Additionally, the transfer mechanisms of photosynthetic microorganism metabolites in the entire system are still not fully clear. In response to this, this article briefly introduces the basic BPV principles, reviews its development history, and summarizes measures to optimize its electrogenic efficiency. Furthermore, recent studies have found that constructing photosynthetic-electrogenic microbial consortia can achieve high power density and stability in BPV systems. Therefore, the article discusses the potential application of constructing photosynthetic-electrogenic microbial aggregates in BPV systems. Since photosynthetic-electrogenic microbial communities can also exist in natural ecosystems, their potential contribution to the carbon cycle is worth further attention.