Biological synthesis of free-standing uniformed goethite nanowires by Shewanella sp. HN-41

Abstract

Dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium Shewanella sp. HN-41 is capable of producing various nanoscale minerals due to its versatile respiratory reduction activities in a range of elements. Herein we report that free-standing uniformed goethite nanowires are synthesized by Shewanella sp. HN-41 under well-controlled bacterial culture conditions. A comparative investigation revealed that the bacterial transformation of iron nanostructures by strain HN-41 was significantly affected by the amount of akaganeite precursors and Fe(ii) in liquid cultures. Electric analysis of the bacterial goethite nanowires shows a meaningful initial charge-discharge capacity for Li-ion storage, suggesting that the facile biological control for the morphological change of nanomaterials can surely give a new opportunity for the development of Li-rechargeable battery electrode materials. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.