Electrochemical communication in biofilm of bacterial community.

Electrochemical communication during biofilm formation has recently been identified. Bacteria within biofilm-adopt different strategies for electrochemical communication such as direct contact via membrane-bound molecules, diffusive electron transfer via soluble redox-active molecules, and ion channel-mediated long-range electrochemical signaling. Long-range electrical signals are important to communicate with distant members within the biofilm, which function through spatially propagating waves of potassium ion (K+ ) that depolarizes neighboring cells. During propagation, these waves coordinate between the metabolic states of interior and peripheral cells of the biofilm. The understanding of electrochemical communication within the biofilm may provide new strategies to control biofilm-mediated drug resistance. Here, we summarized the different mechanisms of electrochemical communication among bacterial populations and suggested its possible role in the development of high level of antibiotic resistance. Thus, electrochemical signaling opens a new avenue concerning the electrophysiology of bacterial biofilm and may help to control the biofilm-mediated infection by developing future antimicrobials.

New Horizons for Conventional Lithium Ion Battery Technology.

Secondary lithium ion battery technology has made deliberate, incremental improvements over the past four decades, providing sufficient energy densities to sustain a significant mobile electronic device industry. Because current battery systems provide ∼100-150 km of driving distance per charge, ∼5-fold improvements are required to fully compete with internal combustion engines that provide >500 km range per tank. Despite expected improvements, the authors believe that lithium ion batteries are unlikely to replace combustion engines in fully electric vehicles. However, high fidelity and safe Li ion batteries can be used in full EVs plus range extenders (e.g., metal air batteries, generators with ICE or gas turbines). This perspective article describes advanced materials and directions that can take this technology further in terms of energy density, and aims at delineating realistic horizons for the next generations of Li ion batteries. This article concentrates on Li intercalation and Li alloying electrodes, relevant to the term Li ion batteries.