These organisms use electricity to convert carbon dioxide into organic matter by using electrons directly taken from solid-inorganic electron donors.
[1] Electrolithoautotrophs are microorganisms which are found in the deep crevices of the ocean.
The warm, mineral-rich environment provides a rich source of nutrients.
The electron source for carbon assimilation from diffusible Fe2+ ions to an electrode under the condition that electrical current is the only source of energy and electrons.
[1] Electrolithoautotrophs form a third metabolic pathway compared to photosynthesis (plants converting light into sugar) and chemosynthesis (bacteria converting chemical energy into food).