Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 41: Franco-German Session: Bacterial Biophysics II
BP 41.2: Talk
Friday, March 13, 2026, 12:00–12:15, BAR/0205
Cable Bacteria as Conductive Interfaces: Towards Scalable, Bacteria-derived Electronics — •Hannah Ferenz1,2, Rakesh Nair2, and Hans Kleemann2 — 1Sächsisches Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra zu Meißen, 01662 Meißen, Germany — 2Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) and Institute for Applied Physics, Technische Universität Dresden, 01187 Dresden, Germany.
Cable bacteria (Electrothecera and Electronema spp.) are multicellular filamentous bacteria that perform centimeter-scale electron transport via parallel conductive fibers embedded in their cell envelope, achieving conductivities up to 30 S cm^-1, rivaling synthetic conjugated polymers. We present a robust bioprocess using controlled oxygen-sulfide gradients in natural sediments to produce mechanically coherent, dense biofilms (>10^5 filaments cm^-2). These living conductive networks self-assemble, remain stable for months in-culture, and self-repair via continued growth after damage.
We demonstrate how these bacterial cultures can be used for the development of bio-derived electrodes based on their inherent nickel-sulfur complexes. These results establish cable bacteria as the first genetically tractable, self-growing biological conductor suitable for integration into transient and sustainable electronics, offering a path toward low-cost, environmentally benign bioelectronic interfaces for sensing, energy harvesting, and wearable devices.
Keywords: Cable bacteria; Biodegradable; Electronics; Leaftronics; Sustanable interfaces