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Redox-Polymer-Based High-Current-Density Gas-Diffusion H2 -Oxidation Bioanode Using [FeFe] Hydrogenase from
Julian Szczesny1, James A Birrell2, Felipe Conzuelo1
1Analytical Chemistry-Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
Abstract:
The incorporation of highly active but also highly sensitive catalysts (e.g. the [FeFe] hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans) in biofuel cells is still one of the major challenges in sustainable energy conversion. We report the fabrication of a dual-gas diffusion electrode H2 /O2 biofuel cell equipped with a [FeFe] hydrogenase/redox polymer-based high-current-density H2 -oxidation bioanode. The bioanodes show benchmark current densities of around 14 mA cm-2 and the corresponding fuel cell tests exhibit a benchmark for a hydrogenase/redox polymer-based biofuel cell with outstanding power densities of 5.4 mW cm-2 at 0.7 V cell voltage. Furthermore, the highly sensitive [FeFe] hydrogenase is protected against oxygen damage by the redox polymer and can function under 5 % O2 .
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