Electrically conductive nanowires controlled one pivotal route in energy harvest and microbial corrosion via direct metal-microbe electron transfer

Extracellular electron transfer(EET)plays a critical role in bioelectrochemical processes,allowing cou-pling between microorganisms and extracellular solid-state electrodes,metals,or other cells in energy metabolism.Previous studies have suggested a role for outer-surface c-type cytochromes in direct metal-to-microbe electron transfer by Geobacter sulfurreducens,a model electroactive bacterium.Here,we ex-amined the possibility of other microbially produced electrical contacts by deleting the gene for PilA,the protein monomer that G.sulfurreducens assembles into electrically conductive protein nanowires(e-pili).Deleting pilA gene inhibited electron extraction from pure iron and 316L stainless steel up to 31%and 81%,respectively more than deleting the gene for the outer-surface cytochrome OmcS.This PilA-deficient phenotype,and the observation that relatively thick biofilms(21.7μm)grew on the metal surfaces at multi-cell distances from the metal surfaces suggest that e-pili contributed significantly to microbial cor-rosion via direct metal-to-microbe electron transfer.These results have implications for the fundamental understanding of electron harvest via e-pili by electroactive microbes,their uses in bioenergy production,as well as in monitoring and mitigation of metal biocorrosion.

Electron transfer mediator PCN secreted by aerobic marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa accelerates microbiologically influenced corrosion of TC4 titanium alloy

Titanium alloys possess excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments,thus the possibility of their corrosion caused by marine microorganisms is neglected.In this work,microbiologically influenced corrosion(MIC)of TC4 titanium alloy caused by marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated through electrochemical and surface characterizations during a 14-day immersion test.Results revealed that the unstable surface caused by P.aeruginosa resulted in exposure of Ti_(2)O_(3) and severe pitting corrosion with maximum pit depth of 5.7μm after 14 days of incubation.Phenazine-1-carboxylate(PCN),secreted by P.aeruginosa,promoted extracellular electron transfer(EET)and accelerated corrosion.Deletion of the phzH gene,which codes for the enzyme that catalyzes PCN production,from the P.aeruginosa genome,resulted in significantly decreased rates of corrosion.These results demonstrate that TC4 titanium alloy is not immune to marine MIC,and EET contributes to the corrosion of TC4 titanium alloy caused by P.aeruginosa.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion behavior of S32654 super austenitic stainless steel in the presence of marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm

S32654 super austenitic stainless steel（SASS） is widely used in highly corrosive environments. However,its microbiologically influenced corrosion（MIC） behavior has not been reported yet. In this study, the corrosion behavior of S32654 SASS caused by a corrosive marine bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated using electrochemical measurements and surface analysis techniques. It was found that P. aeruginosa biofilm accelerated the corrosion rate of S325654 SASS, which was demonstrated by a negative shift of the open circuit potential（EOCP）, a decrease of polarization resistance and an increase of corrosion current density in the culture medium. The largest pit depth of the coupons exposed in the P.aeruginosa broth for 14 days was 2.83 m, much deeper than that of the control（1.33 m） in the abiotic culture medium. It was likely that the P. aeruginosa biofilm catalyzed the formation of CrO_3, which was detrimental to the passive film, resulting in MIC pitting corrosion.

Oral microbiota accelerates corrosion of 316L stainless steel for orthodontic applications

In this work,microbiologically influenced corrosion(MIC)of 316 L stainless steel(SS)caused by oral microbiota was investigated with HOMINGS 16 S rRNA gene sequencing technology,and electrochemical and surface analysis techniques.The results showed that oral microbiota from different subjects developed multi-species biofilms with significant differences in structure and composition of bacteria strains on the316 L SS coupons.In the presence of oral microbiota,more severe pitting corrosion and faster dissolution of metallic ions including Ni and Cr were observed.The biofilm considerably decreased the pitting potential of 316 L SS from 1268.0±29.1 mV vs.SCE(abiotic control)to less than 500 mV vs.SCE.The corrosion current density in the presence of oral microbiota from subject 1(115.3±83.3 nA cm^(-2))and subject 2(184.4±162.0 nA cm^(-2))was at least 4 times more than that in the abiotic medium(28.0±2.3 nA cm^(-2)).The electroactive microorganisms with the potential to facilitate corrosion via extracellular electron transfer found in oral microbiota may be mainly responsible for the accelerated corrosion.

Enhanced pitting corrosion resistance of CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy in the presence of Desulfovibrio vulgaris via nitrogen doping

Corrosion-resistant high nitrogen high entropy alloys(HEAs)were manufactured by pressurized metal-lurgy.This work revealed the inhibitory effect of nitrogen on pitting corrosion of HEAs caused by sul-fate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris.Results indicated that HEA-0 N was susceptible to pitting corrosion and sulfidation under attack of D.vulgaris,whereas the addition of nitrogen significantly de-creased the pitting sensitivity.Pitting potentials of HEA-0.52 N and HEA-1.23 N increased by 133%and 171%,respectively compared to HEA-0 N in the presence of SRB.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results unveiled that nitrogen enriched in passive film and strengthened it by increasing fraction of Cr_(2)O_(3)and Fe^(3+)_(ox).Surface of the nitrogen-alloyed HEAs exhibited less defective passive films as revealed by Mott-Schottky results.Nitrogen doping provides a novel insight into the design of microbial corrosion resistant HEA.

Cu-bearing high-entropy alloys with excellent antiviral properties

The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 since December 2019 has caused great challenges to health organizations,and brought tremendous impact on the global economy.There have been over62.3 million confirmed infection cases and 1.4 million deaths reported until now(December 1 st,2020),and the numbers are still growing[1].Although not as influential as COVID-19.