Mimicking the microbial oxidation of elemental sulfur with a biphasic electrochemical cell

The lack of an artificial system that mimics elemental sulfur (S8) oxidation by microorganisms inhibits a deep mechanistic understanding the cycle in biosphere and metabolism sulfur-oxidising microorganisms. In this article, we present biphasic biochemical under ambient conditions using liquid|liquid (L|L) electrochemical cell gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as interfacial catalyst. interface between two solvents very different polarity is ideal environment to oxidise S8, overcoming incompatible solubilities hydrophobic reactants (O2 S8) hydrophilic products (H+, SO32–, SO42–, etc.). Furthermore, AuNPs provide catalytic surface onto which O2 S8 can adsorb. Control over driving force for reaction provided polarising L|L externally tuning Fermi level adsorption aqueous anions. Comparison measurements 4-electrode closed bipolar confirmed electron transfer reactions are possible O2, systems.