A novel three-dimensional carbonized PANI(1600)@CNTs network for enhanced enzymatic biofuel cell

A novel three-dimensional (3D) carbon composite of PANI(1600)@CNTs with rhizobium-like structure is prepared by in-situ polymerization of aniline monomers around and along the functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and then carbonized at 1600 degrees C for enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs). The SEM and TEM images clearly show that the carbonized PANI grew seamlessly on the surface of CNTs and presented the rhizobium-like structure. The carbonized PANI acts like conductive glue and connects the adjacent tubes together, which can assemble the CNTs into a 3D network. The PANI(1600)@CNTs composite modified glassy carbon electrodes based on glucose oxidase (GOx) and laccase (Lac) exhibit high electrochemical performance. A glucose//O-2 EBFC constitutes of the fabricated anode and cathode performs a maximum power density of 1.12 mW cm(-2) at 0.45 V. Furthermore, three of the fabricated EBFCs in series are able to lightening up a yellow light-emitting diode (LED) whose turn on voltage is about at 1.8 V. This work may be helpful for exploiting novel substrates by carbonizing the composites of conducting polymer with nano materials at high-temperature for immobilization of enzymes in the EBFCs or biosensor fields.