Membraneless glucose/O2 microfluidic enzymatic biofuel cell using pyrolyzed photoresist film electrodes

Lab Chip. 2013 Aug 7;13(15):2972-9. doi: 10.1039/c3lc50319d.

Abstract

Biofuel cells typically yield lower power and are more difficult to fabricate than conventional fuel cells using inorganic catalysts. This work presents a glucose/O2 microfluidic biofuel cell (MBFC) featuring pyrolyzed photoresist film (PPF) electrodes made on silicon wafers using a rapid thermal process, and subsequently encapsulated by rapid prototyping techniques into a double-Y-shaped microchannel made entirely of plastic. A ferrocenium-based polyethyleneimine polymer linked to glucose oxidase (GOx/Fc-C6-LPEI) was used in the anode, while the cathode contained a mixture of laccase, anthracene-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and tetrabutylammonium bromide-modified Nafion (MWCNTs/laccase/TBAB-Nafion). The cell performance was studied under different flow-rates, obtaining a maximum open circuit voltage of 0.54 ± 0.04 V and a maximum current density of 290 ± 28 μA cm(-2) at room temperature under a flow rate of 70 μL min(-1) representing a maximum power density of 64 ± 5 μW cm(-2). Although there is room for improvement, this is the best performance reported to date for a bioelectrode-based microfluidic enzymatic biofuel cell, and its materials and fabrication are amenable to mass production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus niger / enzymology
  • Bioelectric Energy Sources*
  • Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Electrodes
  • Enzymes, Immobilized / metabolism
  • Equipment Design
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glucose Oxidase / metabolism
  • Laccase / metabolism
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Oxygen / metabolism*
  • Trametes / enzymology

Substances

  • Enzymes, Immobilized
  • Glucose Oxidase
  • Laccase
  • Glucose
  • Oxygen