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Physical constraints on charge transport through bacterial nanowires.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Polizzi, NF; Skourtis, SS; Beratan, DN
Published in: Faraday discussions
January 2012

Extracellular appendages of the dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 were recently shown to sustain currents of 10(10) electrons per second over distances of 0.5 microns [El-Naggar et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2010, 107, 18127]. However, the identity of the charge localizing sites and their organization along the "nanowire" remain unknown. We use theory to predict redox cofactor separation distances that would permit charge flow at rates of 10(10) electrons per second over 0.5 microns for voltage biases of < or = IV, using a steady-state analysis governed by a non-adiabatic electron transport mechanism. We find the observed currents necessitate a multi-step hopping transport mechanism, with charge localizing sites separated by less than 1 nm and reorganization energies that rival the lowest known in biology.

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Published In

Faraday discussions

DOI

EISSN

1364-5498

ISSN

1359-6640

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

155

Start / End Page

43 / 62

Related Subject Headings

  • Thermodynamics
  • Static Electricity
  • Shewanella
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Nanowires
  • Models, Molecular
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Metals
  • Kinetics
  • Electrons
 

Citation

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Polizzi, N. F., Skourtis, S. S., & Beratan, D. N. (2012). Physical constraints on charge transport through bacterial nanowires. Faraday Discussions, 155, 43–62. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1fd00098e
Polizzi, Nicholas F., Spiros S. Skourtis, and David N. Beratan. “Physical constraints on charge transport through bacterial nanowires.Faraday Discussions 155 (January 2012): 43–62. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1fd00098e.
Polizzi NF, Skourtis SS, Beratan DN. Physical constraints on charge transport through bacterial nanowires. Faraday discussions. 2012 Jan;155:43–62.
Polizzi, Nicholas F., et al. “Physical constraints on charge transport through bacterial nanowires.Faraday Discussions, vol. 155, Jan. 2012, pp. 43–62. Epmc, doi:10.1039/c1fd00098e.
Polizzi NF, Skourtis SS, Beratan DN. Physical constraints on charge transport through bacterial nanowires. Faraday discussions. 2012 Jan;155:43–62.
Journal cover image

Published In

Faraday discussions

DOI

EISSN

1364-5498

ISSN

1359-6640

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

155

Start / End Page

43 / 62

Related Subject Headings

  • Thermodynamics
  • Static Electricity
  • Shewanella
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Nanowires
  • Models, Molecular
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Metals
  • Kinetics
  • Electrons