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The outstanding metabolic versatility of purple non‐sulphur bacteria makes these organisms an ideal candidate for developing photobioelectrochemical systems applicable in contaminated environments. Here, the effects of 2,4 dinitrophenol, a common contaminant, on purple bacteria photobioelectrocatalysis were investigated. The aromatic contaminant clearly affects current generation, with an enhanced photocurrent obtained at low dinitrophenol concentrations (0.5–1 μM), while higher values (up to 100 μM) resulted in a gradual decrease of photocurrent. The obtained electrochemical evidence, coupled to spectroscopic studies, allowed verifying the viability of the bacteria cells after exposure to dinitrophenol, and that no alteration of the photosynthetic apparatus was obtained. The results indicate that high dinitrophenol concentrations divert electrons from the extracellular electron pathway to an alternative electron sink. The present results open the door to the possible use of intact bacteria‐based photoelectrodes to develop technologies for sustainable biosensors with simultaneous environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invited for this issue's Front Cover is the international collaborative team with researchers from Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro" (Italy), São Paulo State University (UNESP, Brasil), and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy). The cover picture shows purple bacterial cells that hit, or miss, their "target electrode" with photo‐induced electrons depending on the concentration of dinitrophenol at which they are exposed. Under low dinitrophenol concentration, the electrons can reach the target, while under high dinitrophenol concentrations the electrons are diverted away from the electrode. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/celc.202300013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photobioelectrochemistry, biosensor, nitrophenol, purple bacteria, semiartificial photosynthesis Keywords: photobioelectrochemistry; biosensor; nitrophenol; purple bacteria; semiartificial photosynthesis EN photobioelectrochemistry biosensor nitrophenol purple bacteria semiartificial photosynthesis 1 1 1 06/20/23 20230614 NES 230614 B The Front Cover b represents how purple bacterial cells utilized in biohybrid electrochemical systems hit, or miss, their "target electrode" with photo-induced electrons depending on the concentration of dinitrophenol at which they are exposed. [Extracted from the article]