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Extracellular electron transfer (EET) denotes the process of microbial respiration with electron transfer to extracellular acceptors and has been exploited in a range of microbial electrochemical systems (MESs). To further understand EET and to optimize the performance of MESs, a better understanding of the dynamics at the microscale is needed. However, the real‐time monitoring of EET at high spatiotemporal resolution would require sophisticated signal amplification. To amplify local EET signals, a miniaturized bioelectronic device, the so‐called organic microbial electrochemical transistor (OMECT), is developed, which includes Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 integrated onto organic electrochemical transistors comprising poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) combined with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Bacteria are attached to the gate of the transistor by a chronoamperometric method and the successful attachment is confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. Monitoring EET with the OMECT configuration is achieved due to the inherent amplification of the transistor, revealing fast time‐responses to lactate. The limits of detection when using microfabricated gates as charge collectors are also investigated. The work is a first step toward understanding and monitoring EET in highly confined spaces via microfabricated organic electronic devices, and it can be of importance to study exoelectrogens in microenvironments, such as those of the human microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-based ion exchange membranes (IEMs) are utilized for many applications such as in water desalination, energy storage, fuel cells and in electrophoretic drug delivery devices, exemplified by the organic electronic ion pump (OEIP). The bulk of current research is primarily focused on finding highly conductive and stable IEM materials. Even though great progress has been made, a lack of fundamental understanding of how specific polymer properties affect ionic transport capabilities still remains. This leads to uncertainty in how to proceed with synthetic approaches for designing better IEM materials. In this study, an investigation of the structure-property relationship between polymer size and ionic conductivity was performed by comparing a series of membranes, based on ionically charged hyperbranched polyglycerol of different polymer sizes. Observing an increase in ionic conductivity associated with increasing polymer size and greater electrolyte exclusion, indicating an ionic transportation phenomenon not exclusively based on membrane electrolyte uptake. These findings further our understanding of ion transport phenomena in semi-permeable membranes and indicate a strong starting point for future design and synthesis of IEM polymers to achieve broader capabilities for a variety of ion transport-based applications. Ion exchange membranes plays a central role in the field of organic electronics. These types of polyelectrolyte based materials are utilized in various applications such as water desalination, energy storage, fuel cells and in electrophoretic drug delivery devices. In this study is the relationship between ionic conductivity and the particle size of hyperbranched polyelectrolytes in free-standing ion exchange membranes investigated. [Display omitted] • Ion exchange membranes (IEMs) play a central role in organic (bio)electronics. • Hyperbranched polyelectrolytes are explored as a tunable platform for IEMs. • The relationship between ionic conductivity and the particle size is investigated. • Ionic conductivity and electrolyte exclusion increases with polymer size. • Ionic conductivity is shown to be not exclusively based on electrolyte uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]