Development of a bio-energy generation system based on microfluidic platform

Abstract

This paper reports the development of a bioenergy generation system -using microfluidic platform for processing the electrochemical energy conversion and storage inside a cell. The cell is designed to consist of two modified gold electrodes and glucose as the electrolyte. Electrical energy is generated by redox reaction through the process of glucose oxidation and oxygen reduction. The entire chemical reaction process is designed to take place between the cathode and anode without a proton exchange membrane. A thickness-controlled PDMS is used to form the fluidic channel for transporting the glucose solution. We have thus far completed the fabrication of the micro-bio-reaction system, and the electrodes were characterized secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to prove the adhesion of the necessary chemicals and proteins for bioelectrical-reaction.