A biofuel cell with enhanced performance by multilayer biocatalyst immobilized on highly ordered macroporous...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Biofuel cells offer a sustainable energy source.
• Improving electrode architecture is crucial for enhancing biofuel cell performance.
• Layer-by-layer assembly is a versatile technique for electrode modification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-performance glucose/oxygen biofuel cell.
• To investigate the efficacy of a three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) gold electrode functionalized with nanoparticles and enzymes.
• To enhance the power density of miniaturized biofuel cells.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a 3DOM gold electrode using an inverted colloidal crystal template.
• Functionalization of the electrode with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and enzymes (glucose dehydrogenase or laccase) via electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly.
• Fabrication of a one-compartment glucose/O(2) biofuel cell.

Main Results:

• The (AuNPs/GDH)(n) multilayer exhibited excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation.
• The (AuNPs/laccase)(n) films facilitated direct electroreduction of oxygen.
• A maximum power density of 178 microW cm(-2) at 226 mV was achieved, a 16-fold increase over flat electrodes.

Conclusions:

• The 3DOM gold electrode functionalized using LbL assembly significantly enhances biofuel cell performance.
• The proposed method is simple and effective for improving the power output of miniaturized biofuel cells.
• This approach holds promise for developing advanced energy storage devices.