A hybrid bioelectrochemical device based on glucose/O-2 enzymatic biofuel cell for energy conversion and storage

In this work, combining poly (methylene green)/glucose dehydrogenase (PMG/GDH) bioanode with Prussian blue/glucose oxidase (PB/GOD) biocathode, we developed a hybrid bioelectrochemical device based on glucose/ O2 enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC) to achieve energy conversion and storage. Depending on the reversible redox behaviors, PMG and PB play roles of dual-functional nanomaterials, not only as mediators to accelerate electrons transport between enzymes and electrodes surface, but also as pseudocapacitive materials to achieve energy storage. As a result, this hybrid device exhibited superior performance towards energy storage with a specific capacitance of 158.5 mF cm-2 at the current density of 1 mA cm-2. Meanwhile, a maximum output power density of 783.5 mu W cm-2 in the pulse mode could be obtained, which had a prominent increment than that of the prototypical EBFC (87.5 mu W cm-2) in the steady state. Furthermore, this hybrid device also exhibited better operational stability in long-term charge/discharge cycles test, at the current pulse of 1 mA cm-2. Through the combination of bioelectrocatalysis and capacitive energy storage, this developed hybrid device achieves effective energy conversion and storage, and provides a high output power to address the insufficient power supply of traditional EBFCs, which may enlarge the practical application of EBFCs in self-powered implantable and wearable devices.

Automated summary

A hybrid bioelectrochemical device based on glucose/O2 enzymatic biofuel cell was developed in this study, combining poly (methylene green) and Prussian blue for energy conversion and storage. The device demonstrated superior energy storage performance and output power, with potential significance in the application of self-powered implantable and wearable devices.