Advances in the Semiconductor-Mediated Electron Transfer Mechanism at Microbe-Mineral Interface

The interaction between minerals and microbes is an important biogeochemical process in the earth surface system, which links the transformation of substances and energy exchange in different earth spheres, and also affects a series of important earth surface processes, including the formation and evolution of secondary minerals, nutrient cycling and environmental behaviors of pollutants. The previous studies on microbe-mineral interaction focused on the extracellular electron transfer, and the microbe-mediated dissolution, precipitation, mineralization of minerals. Because of semiconductor properties of the mineral, it plays a special role in the process of microbial extracellular electron transfer, which can also help to understand the mutual interaction between microbe and mineral from a new angle of view. The unique energy level structures and redox properties of semiconducting mineral lead to a great difference in the mechanism of microbe and mineral interaction. The latest research progresses in the mechanism of microbe-mineral interaction mediated by semiconducting mineral were reviewed from two aspects: driven by thermodynamics and light energy. Finally, the future development trends of the interaction between microbes and semiconductor minerals were prospected.