Paper-type membraneless enzymatic biofuel cells using a new biocathode consisting of flexible buckypaper electrode and bilirubin oxidase based catalyst modified by electrografting

A new biocathode consisting of bilirubin oxidase (BOD), 4-aminophthalic acid (4-APA) and buckypaper (BP) electrode is suggested for enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs). Here, to enhance the electron transfer rate of BOD, electrografting method is imported. When this method and 4-APA are utilized, BP surface has negative charges by the polarity arrangement of 4-APA, forming BP/4-APA structure. With the modification of surface charge, T1 active site within BODs having positive charges are strongly bonded with the negative charges of BP/4-APA in neutral pH condition, while the orientation of T1 site is well aligned by electrostatic interaction. This treatment increases both reactivities of cathodic reaction and EBFC performance. To prove that, the performance of membraneless paper-type EBFCs using the new flexible BP/4-APA/BOD biocathode is investigated. According to the evaluations, their maximum power density and open circuit voltage are 92.025 +/- 0.892 mu W cm-2 and 0.612 +/- 0.002 V with injection of 10 mM glucose which is a condition of living body fluid. Such performances are far better than those of other membraneless EBFCs and are large enough to be utilized as a power source of implantable devices for the human body.

Automated summary

A new biocathode consisting of bilirubin oxidase (BOD), 4-aminophthalic acid (4-APA), and buckypaper (BP) electrode is proposed for enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs). By using an electrografting method and 4-APA, the BP surface is modified to have negative charges, forming a BP/4-APA structure. The modified surface enhances the reactivities of the cathodic reaction and improves EBFC performance. The membraneless paper-type EBFCs using the BP/4-APA/BOD biocathode exhibit excellent power density and voltage, making them suitable for power sources in implantable devices.