Piezoelectrotrophy: A new paradigm for microbial energy acquisition

This review introduces piezoelectrotrophy as a novel paradigm in microbial energy acquisition, complementing phototrophy, chemotrophy, and electrotrophy. We define piezoelectrotrophy as the process enabling microorganisms to harness mechanical energy via piezoelectric mechanisms, converting it into electrical energy for cellular metabolism. This expands microbial energy utilization beyond light and chemical sources to ubiquitous mechanical energy in natural systems. We propose a framework for piezoelectromicrobiology, emphasizing the nano-bio interface for electron generation, transfer, and uptake. The concept carries profound ecological and evolutionary implications, from cellular metabolism to ecosystem dynamics. We explore applications in environmental remediation, sensing technologies, bioelectronics, and medical implants. A roadmap addresses methodological challenges and suggests validation experiments. Piezoelectrotrophy offers a conceptual framework for investigating mechanical energy use in microbial systems, providing testable hypotheses for energy acquisition in dark, oligotrophic environments, biogeochemical cycles, microbial evolution, and biotechnology. Rigorous experimental validation is essential to confirm its ecological relevance and energetic viability.