Paper‐based flexible membraneless fuel cells using vitamins as both anodic catalyst and fuel

Abstract

Direct liquid fuel cell (DLFC) and membraneless fuel cell using the anode consisting of buckypaper (BP) and vitamin B 12 (Vit B 12 ) (BP/Vit B 12 ) is introduced in physiological condition, while vitamin C (Vit C) is used as anodic fuel. Due to the high sensitivity of Vit B 12 and the inherent feature of BP, the onset potential for the oxidation reaction of Vit C catalyzed by BP/Vit B 12 is À0.1 V (vs Ag/AgCl), and its anodic current density measured at 0.3 V (vs Ag/AgCl) is 1.82 mA cm À2 even in a low Vit C concentration (10 mM). Regarding performance in fuel cells, maximum power density (MPD) of Vit C fuel cell containing membrane and Pt-based air cathode is 0.62 ± 0.067 mW cm À2 in 0.01 M Vit C, and this is 3.1 times higher than that of fuel cell containing pristine BP. In addition, in a paper-based flexible membraneless fuel cell using BP/bilirubin oxidase as cathode and the concentration of cerebrospinal fluid within the human body (0.35 mM Vit C), its MPD is 57.7 ± 4.02 μW cm À2 . This means this suggested Vit C fuel cell system can replace the conventional primary batteries considered as the power source of implantable sensors and stimulation devices to treat neurological disorders.

Stretchable Enzymatic Biofuel Cells Based on Microfluidic Structured Elastomeric Polydimethylsiloxane with Wrinkled Gold Electrodes

“…[ 10–12 ] Therefore, EBFCs can use metabolites as fuel selectively that is produced in the human body or sugars contained in the body fluids, and produce electricity without a separate charging process as long as fuel is provided. [ 13–16 ] In addition, EBFCs can be operated under moderate operating conditions, such as body temperature and neutral pH, and has little risk of explosion, making them suitable for use as the power source. [ 17,18 ] Recent studies have already suggested that various types of EBFCs were beyond the level of academic interest, such as catalyst development.…”

Density Functional Theory-Based Predictions and Experimental Evaluations of Ferrocene Derivatives Considered as Mediator for Anodic Catalysts of Glucose and Oxygen Enzymatic Biofuel Cells

“…By using enzymes, the EBFC can be operated under milder conditions, such as room temperature (RT) and natural pH, than other conventional fuel cells. Also, metabolites, such as ascorbate, creatine, and lactate, [3][4][5] produced in the body, or saccharides, such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose that are biocompatible materials, can be used as fuel [6,7]. In addi-tion, since enzymes have good fuel selectivity, EBFC can be operated even in conditions of mixed fuel without membrane, and thus, the design flexibility of EBFC is very liberal [8][9][10][11][12].…”