title: Membraneless glucose/O2 microfluidic enzymatic biofuel cell using pyrolyzed photoresist film electrodes.
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.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (Esfera UAB), 08193-Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: González-Guerrero
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Esquivel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Molas
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godignon
authors.forename: Francesc Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: del Campo
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giroud
authors.forename: Shelley D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Minteer
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sabaté
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000201:enzymology; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000378:metabolism; D004867:Equipment Design; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D042845:Laccase / Q000378:metabolism; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D055454:Trametes / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D042845:Laccase; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen