A hybrid biobattery: Generation of electricity using nanocatalytic system

CATL 7

Jianjun Wei, jjw@cfdrc.com1, Aditya S. Bedekar, abs@cfdrc.com1, Stephen Malin, sfm@cfdrc.com, and Shankar Sundaram, sxs@cfdrc.com2. (1) Biomedical Branch, CFD Research Corporation, 215 Wynn Drive, Suite 501, Huntsville, AL 35805, (2) BioMedical Technology, CFD Research Corporation, 215 Wynn Dr, Huntsville, AL 35805
A hybrid biofuel cell, combining a platinum nanoparticle-based cathode and an enzyme (glucose oxidase, GOX) trapped in a carbon nanotube-polymer matrix anode, has been constructed, in which platinum nanoparticles work as catalysts of four-electron reduction of dioxygen, and GOx acts as direct electron transfer (DET)-type bioelectrocatalysis in the two-electron oxidation of D-glucose, respectively. GOx is immobilized strongly and stably on a nanocomposite matrix that consists of layer-by-layer self-assembled functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and a biocompatible polymer. Electrochemistry of the GOx at CNT/polymer modified electrode indicates that the electrons are directly transferred to the CNT from the FAD site in GOx, indicating enhanced electron transportation process. The porous CNT/polymer matrix substrate provides large surface area for enzyme immobilization, thus highly efficient bioelectrocatalysis of D-glucose oxidation. The miniature of this hybrid biofuel cell will provide a unique approach for an on-demand power source using renewable fuel and operating at room temperature.