Self-feeding paper based biofuel cell/self-powered hybrid μ-supercapacitor integrated system

Claudia W. Narvaez Villarrubia, Francesca Soavi, Carlo Santoro, Catia Arbizzani, Alexey Serov, Santiago Rojas-Carbonell, Gautam Gupta, Plamen Atanassov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

For the first time, a paper based enzymatic fuel cell is used as self-recharged supercapacitor. In this supercapacitive enzymatic fuel cell (SC-EFC), the supercapacitive features of the electrodes are exploited to demonstrate high power output under pulse operation. Glucose dehydrogenase-based anode and bilirubin oxidase-based cathode were assembled to a quasi-2D capillary-driven microfluidic system. Capillary flow guarantees the continuous supply of glucose, cofactor and electrolytes to the anodic enzyme and the gas-diffusional cathode design provides the passive supply of oxygen to the catalytic layer of the electrode. The paper-based cell was self-recharged under rest and discharged by high current pulses up to 4 mA cm−2. The supercapacitive behavior and low equivalent series resistance of the cell permitted to achieve up to a maximum power of 0.87 mW cm−2 (10.6 mW) for pulses of 0.01 s at 4 mA cm−2. This operation mode allowed the system to achieve at least one order of magnitude higher current/power generation compared to the steady state operation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)459-465
Number of pages7
JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics
Volume86
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 15 2016
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FS and CA acknowledge financial support by Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna (Researcher Mobility Program).

Keywords

  • Enzymatic fuel cell
  • Paper-based microfluidic system
  • Power pulses
  • Supercapacitor

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