We propose the very first "Nernstian biosupercapacitor", a biodevice based on only one redox polymer: poly(vinyl imidazole-co-allylamine)[Os(bpy)2 Cl], and two biocatalysts. At the bioanode PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase reduces the Os3+ moieties at the polymer to Os2+ shifting the Nernst potential of the Os3+ /Os2+ redox couple to negative values. Concomitantly, at the biocathode the reduction of O2 by means of bilirubin oxidase embedded in the same redox polymer leads to the oxidation of Os2+ to Os3+ shifting the Nernst potential to higher values. Despite the use of just one redox polymer an open circuit voltage of more than 0.45 V was obtained during charging and the charge is stored in the redox polymer at both the bioanode and the biocathode. By connecting both electrodes via a predefined resistor a high power density is obtained for a short time exceeding the steady state power of a corresponding biofuel cell by a factor of 8.
Keywords: Nernstian biosupercapacitor; bioelectrocatalysis; biofuel cells; redox hydrogels.
© 2016 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.