A tattoo-like glucose abiotic biofuel cell

Abstract

• AuNPs printed bacterial nanocellulose electrodes for abiotic biofuel cell development. • co-Pt anode and Ag 2 O-MWCNTs nanocomposite cathode exhibited good electrocatalysis. • Ag 2 O-MWCNT provides a porous conductive network for dissolved oxygen reduction. • Achieved V oc of 0.57 V, I sc of 0.581 mA/cm 2 , and P max of 0.087 mW/cm 2 at 0.35 V. • P max increased linearly and showed good performance in serum containing glucose. Glucose abiotic biofuel cell using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) ink printed electrodes on bacterial nanocellulose was developed with colloidal platinum (co-Pt) anode and silver oxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube (Ag 2 O-MWCNTs) nanocomposite cathode. The co-Pt was electrodeposited to increase the conductivity of the printed AuNPs electrode and enhance the oxidation of glucose at the anode. The Ag 2 O-MWCNT composite was synthesized and modified on the cathode surface to provide a porous conductive network and increase the electrode electrocatalytic activity. The surface morphologies and electrochemical properties were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). An open circuit voltage (V oc ) of 0.43 V, short circuit current density (I sc ) of 0.405 mA/cm 2 , and maximum power density (P max ) of 0.055 mW/cm 2 at 0.23 V were achieved in the presence of 5 mM glucose, whereas a higher V oc of 0.57 V, I sc of 0.581 mA/cm 2 , and P max of 0.087 mW/cm 2 at 0.35 V were obtained in the presence of 20 mM glucose. Using various glucose concentrations, the peak power density increased linearly and showed good performance in serum containing glucose. This single abiotic biofuel cell generated adequate power via a voltage booster circuit to illuminate an LED.