Catalytic Characterization of Size Based Gold Nanoparticles for Applications in Fuel Cells

Abstract

Considerable research attention has been given to glucose biofuel cells as they have been recognized for their ability to work under ambient temperatures and a range of pH that makes them suitable for in vivo implantation to power, with body glucose, implantable electronic devices. In this work, we have employed a different approach compared to organic enzymes to facilitate the fabrication of biofuel cell with no organic enzymes. Gold and platinum nanoparticles were synthesized as oxidizing agents and compared their effectiveness in our fabricated biofuel cell. The nanoparticles were placed on a conductive carbon structure. We have found that the gold nanoparticles are more effective as catalyst capable of converting glucose into gluconic acid compared with that of platinum particles. We further found that the concentration of nanoparticles in the cell may not benefit the catalysis of the glucose due to the decrease of surface area to volume ratio as the nanoparticles' concentration increases. Our fabricated fuel cell showed a capability of running multiple cycles, once the medium is adjusted to optimal operation conditions.