Oxygen transport through laccase biocathodes for a membrane-less glucose/O2 biofuel cell

The present study reports the development of operational membrane-less glucose/O₂ biofuel cell based on oxygen contactor. Glucose oxidation was performed by glucose oxidase (GOx) co-immobilized with the mediator 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid hydrate (HQS) at the anode, whereas oxygen was reduced by laccase co-immobilized with 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) diammonium salt (ABTS²⁻) at the cathode. Both enzymes and mediators were immobilized within electropolymerized polypyrrole polymers.Nevertheless, this system is limited by the secondary reaction of O₂ electro-reduction at the anode that reduces the electron flow through the anode and thus the output voltage. In order to avoid the loss of current at the anode in glucose/O₂ biofuel cell, we developed a strategy to supply dissolved oxygen separate from the electrolyte. Porous carbon tubes were used as electrodes and modified on the external surface by the couple enzyme/mediator. The inside of the cathode tube was continuously supplied with saturated dioxygen solution diffusing from the inner to the external surface of the porous tube. The assembled biofuel cell was studied under nitrogen at 37 °C in phosphate buffer at pH 5.0 and 7.0. The maximum power density reached 27 μW cm⁻² at a cell voltage of 0.25 V at pH 5.0 with 10 mM glucose. The power density was twice as high as compared to the same system with oxygen bubbling directly in the cell.     

Development of a biofuel cell using glucose-oxidase- and bilirubin-oxidase-based electrodes

Biofuel cells have a tremendous opportunity to provide much higher energy densities and smaller footprints than batteries for powering implantable medical devices, leading to less intrusive implantable devices with longer lifetimes. This paper introduces biofuel cell anode and cathode designs based on mediated glucose oxidation by glucose oxidase and oxygen reduction by bilirubin oxidase, respectively. We report here the progress toward the development of components for biofuel cells working in physiological conditions. We have investigated enzymatic electrode formulations that have the potential to achieve higher current densities and longer stability of the electrodes: (a) high surface area by the use of multiscale carbon materials, (b) immobilization of redox mediator on the electrode surface, and (c) use of a protective biocompatible polymer coating. Part of this work was presented at the 213th Electrochemical Society Meeting as a poster     

A microfluidic glucose biofuel cell to generate micropower from enzymes at ambient temperature

A Y-shaped microfluidic channel is applied for the first time to the construction of a glucose/O₂ biofuel cell, based on both laminar flow and biological enzyme strategies. During operation, the fuel and oxidant streams flow parallel at gold electrode surfaces without convective mixing. At the anode, the glucose oxidation is performed by the enzyme glucose oxidase whereas at the cathode, the oxygen is reduced by the enzyme laccase, in the presence of specific redox mediators. Such cell design protects the anode from an interfering parasite reaction of O₂ at the anode and offers the advantage of using different streams of oxidant and fuel for optimal performance of the enzymes. Electrochemical characterizations of the device show the influence of the flow rate on the output potential and current density. The maximum power density delivered by the assembled biofuel cell reached 110 μW cm^?2 at 0.3 V with 10 mM glucose at 23 °C. The microfluidic approach reported here demonstrates the feasibility of advanced microfabrication techniques to build an efficient microfluidic glucose/O₂ biofuel cell device.     

Enhancement of the performances of a single concentric glucose/O2 biofuel cell by combination of bilirubin oxidase/Nafion cathode and Au–Pt anode

This work deals with a novel preparation method of bilirubin oxidase/2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid electrode. The enzyme and its mediator were adsorbed on carbon Vulcan XC-72R before their immobilization into a Nafion^® matrix. Promising results were obtained when this biocathode was associated with Au₇₀Pt₃₀ nanoparticles as anode in a single concentric glucose/O₂ biofuel cell (BFC). The latter BFC delivered at 37 °C a power density of 90 μW cm^?2 for a cell voltage of 0.4 V in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 0.01 M glucose. Moreover, the electrical performances were increased with the concentration of glucose by generating up to 190 μW cm^?2 for a cell voltage of 0.52 V when the concentration of the renewable fuel reached 0.7 M.     

A glucose/hydrogen peroxide biofuel cell that uses oxidase and peroxidase as catalysts by composite bulk-modified bioelectrodes based on a solid binding matrix

An improved composite bulk-modified bioelectrode setup based on a solid binding matrix (SBM) has been used to develop a glucose/hydrogen peroxide biofuel cell. Fuel is combined through a catalytically promoted reaction with oxygen into and oxidized species and electricity. The present work explores the feasibility of a sugar-feed biofuel cell based on SBM technology. The biofuel cell that utilizes mediators as electron transporters from the glucose oxidation pathway of the enzyme directly to electrodes is considered in this work. The anode was a glucose oxidase (GOx, EC 1.1.3.4)/ferrocene-modified SBM/graphite composite electrode. The cathode was a horseradish peroxidase (HRP, EC 1.11.1.7)/ferrocene-modified SBM/graphite composite electrode. The composite transducer material was layered on a wide polymeric surface to obtain the biomodified electrodic elements, anodes and cathodes and were assembled into a biofuel cell using glucose and H(2)O(2) as the fuel substrate and the oxidizer. The electrochemical properties and the characteristics of single composite bioelectrodes are described. The open-circuit voltage of the cell was 0.22 V, and the power output of the cell was 0.15 microW/cm(2) at 0.021 V. The biofuel cell proved to be stable for an extended period of continuous work (30 days). The reproducibility of the biotransducers fabrication was also investigated. In addition, an application of presented biofuel cell, e.g. the use of hydrolyzed corn syrup as renewable biofuels, was discussed.     

An implantable biofuel cell for a live insect

A biofuel cell incorporating a bienzymatic trehalase|glucose oxidase trehalose anode and a bilirubin oxidase dioxygen cathode using Os complexes grafted to a polymeric backbone as electron relays was designed and constructed. The specific power densities of the biofuel cell implanted in a female Blaberus discoidalis through incisions into its abdomen yielded maximum values of ca. 55 μW/cm(2) at 0.2 V that decreased by only ca. 5% after ca. 2.5 h of operation.     

Guanine/Ionic Liquid Derived Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Decorated with AuNPs as Efficient NADH Biosensor and Suitable Platform for Enzymes Immobilization and Biofuel Cell Design

Guanine‐ionic liquid derived ordered mesoporous carbon (GIOMC) decorated with gold nanoparticles was used as electrocatalyste for NADH oxidation and electrochemical platform for immobilization of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) enzyme. The resulting GIOMC/AuNPs on the glassy carbon electrode can be used as novel redox‐mediator free for NADH sensing and this integrated system (GIOMC/AuNPs/GDH) shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation. Furthermore, the ionic liquid derived ordered mesoporous carbon derivate with Ph‐SO₃H (IOMC‐PhSO₃H) decorated with AuNPs has been developed to bilirubin oxidase enzyme (BOD) immobilization and the GC/IOMC‐PhSO₃H/BOD integrated system shows excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction. The proposed mesostructured platforms decorated by AuNPs have been developed to enhance mass transfer and charge transfer from biocatalyst to electrode, leading these bioanode and biocathode used for biofuel cell assembly. Integration designed bioanode and biocathode yielding a membrane‐less glucose/O₂ biofuel cell with power density of 33 (mW.cm⁻²) at 257 mV. The open circuit voltage of this biofuel cell and maximum produced current density were 508 mV and 0.252 (mA.cm⁻²) respectively.     

Preparation of an Electrode Modified with an Electropolymerized Film as a Mediator of NADH Oxidation and Its Application in an Ethanol/O2 Biofuel Cell

This paper reports a novel mediator for the oxidation of β‐nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺/NADH), an electropolymeric film (pAPRu) of [Ru(NH₂‐phen)₃]²⁺. A pAPRu‐modified electrode was prepared via electropolymerization and exhibited catalytic activity toward the electrochemical oxidation of NADH due to the imine moieties of pAPRu. The electrochemical oxidation of ethanol was observed using an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)‐immobilized electrode. A compartmentless ethanol/O₂ biofuel cell composed of an ADH anode and a bilirubin oxidase cathode was constructed. The maximum current density and the maximum power density of the biofuel cell were 190 µA cm^?2 and 31 µW cm^?2 (at 0.29 V), respectively.     

A biofuel cell with enhanced power output by grape juice

Glucose oxidase and laccase immobilized at multiwalled carbon nanotubes-ionic liquid gel modified electrodes are used as the catalysts of anode and cathode of biofuel cells (BFCs), respectively. The BFC based on glucose and air is proposed. When ferrocene monocarboxylic acid is adopted as the mediator of anode, the power output of the BFC is ca. 4.1 μW (power density ca. 10.0 μW cm⁻²), which is higher than the value of 2.7 μW (power density ca. 6.6 μW cm⁻²) by taking ferrocene dicarboxylic acid as the mediator. This implies that the mediator with formal potential closing to that of the enzyme does improve the power output. Furthermore, the power output of the BFC is greatly improved by taking grape juice as the fuel of anode rather than glucose. This system also indicates that grape juice as a fuel of the BFC not only is feasible and can also enhances the power output of the BFCs. Besides, it greatly lowers the cost and simplifies the preparation procedure of the BFCs, making the BFC towards “green” bioenergy.     

Biofuel Cell Operating in Vivo in Rat

Biocatalytic electrodes made of buckypaper were modified with PQQ‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase on the anode and with laccase on the cathode. The enzyme modified electrodes were assembled in a biofuel cell which was first characterized in human serum solution and then the electrodes were placed onto exposed rat cremaster tissue. Glucose and oxygen dissolved in blood were used as the fuel and oxidizer, respectively, for the implanted biofuel cell operation. The steady‐state open circuitry voltage of 140±30 mV and short circuitry current of 10±3 µA (current density ca. 5 µA cm^?2 based on the geometrical electrode area of 2 cm²) were achieved in the in vivo operating biofuel cell. Future applications of implanted biofuel cells for powering of biomedical and sensor devices are discussed.     

Study on Glucose Biofuel Cells Using an Electrochemical Noise Device

An electrochemical noise (ECN) device was utilized for the first time to study and characterize a glucose/O₂ membraneless biofuel cell (BFC) and a monopolar glucose BFC. In the glucose/O₂ membraneless BFC, ferrocene (Fc) and glucose oxidase (GOD) were immobilized on a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/Au electrode with a gelatin film at the anode; and laccase (Lac) and an electron mediator, 2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonate) diammonium salt (ABTS), were immobilized on a MWCNTs/Au electrode with polypyrrole at the cathode. This BFC was performed in a stirred acetate buffer solution (pH 5.0) containing 40 mmol/L glucose in air, with a maximum power density of 8 μW/cm², an open‐circuit cell voltage of 0.29 V, and a short‐circuit current density of 85 μA/cm², respectively. The cell current at the load of 100 kΩ retained 78.9% of the initial value after continuous discharging for 15 h in a stirred acetate buffer solution (pH 5.0) containing 40 mmol/L glucose in air. The performance decrease of the BFC resulted mainly from the leakage of the ABTS mediator immobilized at the cathode, as revealed by the two‐channel quartz crystal microbalance technique. In addition, a monopolar glucose BFC was performed with the same anode as that in the glucose/O₂ membraneless BFC in a stirred phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) containing 40 mmol/L glucose, and a carbon cathode in Nafion‐membrane‐isolated acidic KMnO₄, with a maximum power density of 115 μW/cm², an open‐circuit cell voltage of 1.24 V, and a short‐circuit current density of 202 μA/cm², respectively, which are superior to those of the glucose/O₂ membraneless BFC. A modification of the anode with MWCNTs for the monopolar glucose BFC increased the maximum power density by a factor of 1.8. The ECN device is highly recommended as a convenient, real‐time and sensitive technique for BFC studies.     

A Membraneless Glucose/O2 Biofuel Cell Based on Pd Aerogels

In this study, we introduce the first membraneless glucose/O₂ biofuel cell using Pd‐based aerogels as electrode materials. The bioanode was fabricated with a coimmobilized mediator and glucose oxidase for the oxidation of glucose, in which ferrocenecarboxylic acid was integrated into a three‐dimensional porous beta‐cyclodextrin‐modified Pd aerogel to mediate the bioelectrocatalytic reaction. Bilirubin oxidase and Pd–Pt alloy aerogel were confined to an electrode surface, which realized the direct bioelectrocatalytic function for the reduction of O₂ to H₂O with a synergetic effect at the biocathode. By employing these two bioelectrodes, the assembled glucose/O₂ biofuel cell showed a maximum power output of 20 μW cm^?2 at 0.25 V.     

Enzyme immobilisation on electroactive nanostructured membranes (ENM): optimised architectures for biosensing

Electroactive nanostructured membranes have been produced by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, and used to make electrochemical enzyme biosensors for glucose by modification with cobalt hexacyanoferrate redox mediator and immobilisation of glucose oxidase enzyme. Indium tin oxide (ITO) glass electrodes were modified with up to three bilayers of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers containing gold nanoparticles and poly(vinylsulfonate) (PVS). The gold nanoparticles were covered with cobalt hexacyanoferrate that functioned as a redox mediator, allowing the modified electrode to be used to detect H₂O₂, the product of the oxidase enzymatic reaction, at 0.0 V vs. SCE. Enzyme was then immobilised by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. Several parameters for optimisation of the glucose biosensor were investigated, including the number of deposited bilayers, the enzyme immobilisation protocol and the concentrations of immobilised enzyme and of the protein that was crosslinked with PAMAM. The latter was used to provide glucose oxidase with a friendly environment, in order to preserve its bioactivity. The optimised biosensor, with three bilayers, has high sensitivity and operational stability, with a detection limit of 6.1 μM and an apparent Michaelis–Menten constant of 0.20 mM. It showed good selectivity against interferents and is suitable for glucose measurements in natural samples.     

A biofuel cell with electrochemically switchable and tunable power output

An electroswitchable and tunable biofuel cell based on the biocatalyzed oxidation of glucose is described. The anode consists of a Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) film on which the redox-relay pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor are covalently linked. Apo-glucose oxidase is reconstituted on the FAD sites to yield the glucose oxidase (GOx)-functionalized electrode. The cathode consists of a Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) film that provides the functional interface for the covalent linkage of cytochrome c (Cyt c) that is further linked to cytochrome oxidase (COx). Electrochemical reduction of the Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) films (applied potential -0.5 V vs SCE) associated with the anode and cathode yields the conductive Cu(0)-poly(acrylic acid) matrixes that electrically contact the GOx-electrode and the COx/Cyt c-electrode, respectively. The short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of the biofuel cell correspond to 105 microA (current density ca. 550 microA cm(-2)) and 120 mV, respectively, and the maximum extracted power from the cell is 4.3 microW at an external loading resistance of 1 kOmega. The electrochemical oxidation of the polymer films associated with the electrodes (applied potential 0.5 V) yields the nonconductive Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) films that completely block the biofuel cell operation. By the cyclic electrochemical reduction and oxidation of the polymer films associated with the anode and cathode between the Cu(0)-poly(acrylic acid) and Cu(2+)-poly(acrylic acid) states, the biofuel cell performance is reversibly switched between "ON" and "OFF" states, respectively. The electrochemical reduction of the Cu(2+)-polymer film to the Cu(0)-polymer film is a slow process (ca. 1000 s) because the formation and aggregation of the Cu(0)-clusters requires the migration of Cu(2+) ions in the polymer film and their reduction at conductive sites. The slow reduction of the Cu(2+)-polymer films allows for the controlling of the content of conductive domains in the films and the tuning of the output power of the biofuel cell. The electron-transfer resistances of the cathodic and anodic processes were characterized by impedance spectroscopy. Also, the overall resistances of the biofuel cell generated by the time-dependent electrochemical reduction process were followed by impedance spectroscopy and correlated with the internal resistances of the cell upon its operation.     

Biofuel cell anode based on the Gluconobacter oxydans bacteria cells and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol as an electron transport mediator

A basic scheme of the use of the Gluconobacter oxydans bacteria cells as a biocatalyst at an anode of a biofuel cell with air-based cathode is raised up. The anode and cathode of the cell are made of graphite; 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol serves as an electron transport mediator; and glucose is the substrate to be oxidized. The open-circuit voltage is 55 mV, for the bacteria cell, the mediator, and glucose concentrations of 3 mg/ml (raw weight), 34 mM, and 10 mM, respectively. The voltage and current of the biofuel cell loaded with an external resistance of 10 kohm are 5.6 mV and 0.56 mA. The cell’s internal resistance is 88 kohm.     

A Biofuel Cell Based on Biocatalytic Reactions of Lactate on Both Anode and Cathode Electrodes – Extracting Electrical Power from Human Sweat

Electrodes composed of carbon fibers were modified with graphene nano‐sheets in order to increase their surface area and facilitate electrochemical reactions. Electrocatalytic species, such as Meldola's blue (MB) and hemin were immobilized on the graphene surface due to their π‐π stacking and then used for electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH and reduction of H₂O₂, respectively. Further modification of these electrodes with enzymes producing NADH and H₂O₂ in situ (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH, and lactate oxidase, LOx, respectively), allowed assembling of a biofuel cell operating in the presence of lactate, oxygen and NAD⁺. The cathode of the biofuel cell required lactate and O₂ for its operation, while the anode operated in the presence of lactate and NAD⁺. Notably, both bioelectrocatalytic electrodes operated in the presence of lactate, one producing H₂O₂ in the reaction catalyzed by LOx in the presence of O₂, second producing NADH in the reaction catalyzed by LDH in the presence of NAD⁺. Both reactions were performed in the biofuel cell without separation of the cathodic and anodic solutions and with no need of a membrane. The biofuel cell was tested in solutions mimicking human sweat and then in real human sweat samples, demonstrating substantial power release being able to activate electronic devices.     

Biofuel Cell Based on Anode and Cathode Modified by Glucose Oxidase

A single compartment biofuel cell (BFC) based on an anode and a cathode powered by the same fuel glucose is reported. Glucose oxidase (GOx) from Aspergillus niger was applied as a glucose consuming biocatalyst for both anode and cathode of the BFC. The 5‐amino‐1,10‐phenanthroline modified graphite rod electrode (GRE) with cross‐linked GOx was used as the bioanode, and the GRE with co‐immobilised horseradish peroxidase and GOx was exploited as the biocathode of the BFC. The open‐circuit voltage of the designed BFC exceeded 450 mV and a maximal power density of 3.5 µW/cm² was registered at a cell voltage of 300 mV.     

Characteristics of a miniature compartment-less glucose-O2 biofuel cell and its operation in a living plant

We report the temperature, pH, glucose concentration, NaCl concentration, and operating atmosphere dependence of the power output of a compartment-less miniature glucose-O(2) biofuel cell, comprised only of two bioelectrocatalyst-coated carbon fibers, each of 7 micro m diameter and 2 cm length (Mano, N.; Mao, F.; Heller, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 12962). The bioelectrocatalyst of the anode consists of glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger electrically "wired" by polymer I, having a redox potential of -0.19 V vs Ag/AgCl. That of the cathode consists of bilirubin oxidase from Trachyderma tsunodae "wired" by polymer II having a redox potential of +0.36 V vs Ag/AgCl (Mano, N.; Kim, H.-H.; Zhang, Y.; Heller, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 6480. Mano, N.; Kim, H.-H.; Heller, A. J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 8842). Implantation of the fibers in the grape leads to an operating biofuel cell producing 2.4 micro W at 0.52 V.     

Enzymatic electrodes nanostructured with functionalized carbon nanotubes for biofuel cell applications

Nanostructured bioelectrodes were designed and assembled into a biofuel cell with no separating membrane. The glassy carbon electrodes were modified with mediator-functionalized carbon nanotubes. Ferrocene (Fc) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) diammonium salt (ABTS) bound chemically to the carbon nanotubes were found useful as mediators of the enzyme catalyzed electrode processes. Glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger AM-11 and laccase from Cerrena unicolor C-139 were incorporated in a liquid-crystalline matrix-monoolein cubic phase. The carbon nanotubes–nanostructured electrode surface was covered with the cubic phase film containing the enzyme and acted as the catalytic surface for the oxidation of glucose and reduction of oxygen. Thanks to the mediating role of derivatized nanotubes the catalysis was almost ten times more efficient than on the GCE electrodes: catalytic current of glucose oxidation was 1 mA cm⁻² and oxygen reduction current exceeded 0.6 mA cm⁻². The open circuit voltage of the biofuel cell was 0.43 V. Application of carbon nanotubes increased the maximum power output of the constructed biofuel cell to 100 μW cm⁻² without stirring of the solution which was ca. 100 times more efficient than using the same bioelectrodes without nanotubes on the electrode surface.     

全酶型乙醇/氧气生物燃料电池的构筑及性能研究

本文以乙醇脱氢酶（ADH）和胆红素氧化酶（BOD）为生物催化剂,以碳纳米管为电极材料,构筑了全酶型乙醇/氧气生物燃料电池. 将乙醇脱氢酶负载于单壁碳纳米管（SWCNT）上,采用亚甲基绿（MG）为NADH的电化学催化剂,实现乙醇的生物电化学催化氧化,制备了生物燃料电池ADH/MG/SWCNT/GC的电极（阳极）. 同时,将胆红素氧化酶固定于单壁碳纳米管上,通过其直接电子转移,实现了氧气的生物电化学催化还原,制得生物燃料电池的BOD/SWCNT/GC阴极. 据此构筑了全酶型的无膜生物燃料电池,在空气饱和40 mmol·L^-1乙醇磷酸缓冲溶液中该电池开路电压为0.53 V,最大输出功率密度为11 μW·cm^-2. 以商品化伏特酒作为燃料,该生物燃料电池最大输出功率为3.7 μW·cm^-2.