Mediatorless high-power glucose biofuel cells based on compressed carbon nanotube-enzyme electrodes

Abstract

Enzymatic fuel cells use enzymes to produce energy from bioavailable substrates. However, such biofuel cells are limited by the difficult electrical wiring of enzymes to the electrode. Here we show the efficient wiring of enzymes in a conductive pure carbon nanotube matrix for the fabrication of a glucose biofuel cell (GBFC). Glucose oxidase and laccase were respectively incorporated in carbon nanotube disks by mechanical compression. The characterization of each bioelectrode shows an open circuit potential corresponding to the redox potential of the respective enzymes, and high current densities for glucose oxidation and oxygen reduction. The mediatorless GBFC delivers a high power density up to 1.3 mW cm⁻² and an open circuit voltage of 0.95 V. Moreover, the GBFC remains stable for 1 month and delivers 1 mW cm⁻² power density under physiological conditions (5×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ glucose, pH 7). To date, these values are the best performances obtained for a GBFC.