A membraneless glucose/O(2) biofuel cell based on Pd aerogels

Abstract

In this study, we introduce the first membraneless glucose/O2 biofuel cell using Pd-based aerogels as electrode materials. The bioanode was fabricated with a coimmobilized mediator and glucose oxidase for the oxidation of glucose, in which ferrocenecarboxylic acid was integrated into a three-dimensional porous beta-cyclodextrin-modified Pd aerogel to mediate the bioelectrocatalytic reaction. Bilirubin oxidase and Pd-Pt alloy aerogel were confined to an electrode surface, which realized the direct bioelectrocatalytic function for the reduction of O2 to H2 O with a synergetic effect at the biocathode. By employing these two bioelectrodes, the assembled glucose/O2 biofuel cell showed a maximum power output of 20 μW cm(-2) at 0.25 V.

Keywords: aerogels; biofuel cells; direct electrocatalysis; enzymes; glucose; palladium.