An abiotically catalyzed glucose fuel cell for powering medical implants: Reconstructed manufacturing protocol and analysis of performance

Thin film nanoporous electrodes for the selective catalysis of oxygen in abiotically catalysed micro glucose fuel cells

“…The Tafel slopes between point A and B were estimated through the Tafel plot of IR-corrected potentials (E cor = E + η ohmic ) vs log 10 j. The experimental protocol was based on the one described by Kerzenmacher et al [24]. The test solution consisted of 500 mL PBS (P3813, Sigma-Aldrich, US) diluted to a concentration of 10 mM at pH = 7.4.…”

“…The level was continuously monitored by a DO meter (C3040, Consort, Belgium), and the DO concentrations were also selected to correspond to a physiological range in human tissues ranging from 0.03 mM ∼ = 1 ppm ∼ = 3.5 % to 0.06 mM ∼ = 2 ppm ∼ = 7 %. A DO level of 2 ppm is approximately the value found in the subcutaneous tissue of the human arm (a proposed location of the fuel cell) and was thus considered as the maximum value [24]. The minimum value of 1 ppm was chosen as the oxygen tension in active respiratory tissue with the femoral muscle of the mouse acting as a model [24].…”

“…A DO level of 2 ppm is approximately the value found in the subcutaneous tissue of the human arm (a proposed location of the fuel cell) and was thus considered as the maximum value [24]. The minimum value of 1 ppm was chosen as the oxygen tension in active respiratory tissue with the femoral muscle of the mouse acting as a model [24]. Stable values was obtained by applying a current step of 1.1 µA cm −2 for 1 and 2 ppm DO to increase the load current density for a period of 2 hours from an initial open circuit potential (OCP).…”

“…Considering the latter, common catalyst material such as platinum (Pt) or Raney-Pt alloy offers both good catalytic properties towards DO reduction and glucose oxidation [20,22,23], and is therefore not a perfect material if both analytes are present. Activated carbon may represent an alternative but has a lower overall catalytic activity compared to the RaneyPt alloy in the presence of glucose [24,25]. Other catalysts such as silver, gold, ferric phthalocyanine have drawbacks of either low catalytic activity towards DO reduction or a high catalytic activity towards glucose oxidation [20].…”

“…Some methods based on the use of Raney-alloy catalyst or coating of electrodes with carbon nanotubes or carbon paper as a porous catalyst support have been investigated to increase the real surface area [21,24]. In contrast, porous alumina or anodized aluminium oxide (AAO) possesses several favorable characteristics as a catalyst support due to its large real surface area, tunable and uniform pore diameter, high pore density, and good thermal stability [30,31].…”