Design of Experiments Approach to Provide Enhanced Glucose‐oxidising Enzyme Electrode for Membrane‐less Enzymatic Fuel Cells Operating in Human Physiological Fluids

Abstract

AbstractGraphite electrodes are modified with a redox polymer, [Os(4,4′‐dimethoxy‐2,2′‐bipyridine)2(polyvinylimidazole)10Cl]+ (E°′=−0.02 V vs Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl), crosslinked with a flavin adenine dinucleotide glucose dehydrogenase and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes for electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose. The enzyme electrodes provide 52 % higher current density, 1.22±0.10 mA cm−2 in 50 mM phosphate‐buffered saline at 37 °C containing 5 mM glucose, when component amounts are optimised using a design of experiments approach compared to one‐factor‐at‐a‐time. Current densities of 0.84±0.15 mA cm−2 were achieved in the presence of oxygen for these enzyme electrodes. Further analysis of the model allowed for altering of the electrode components while maintaining similar current densities, 0.78±0.11 mA cm−2 with 34 % less enzyme. Application of the cost‐effective anodes in membrane‐less enzymatic fuel cells is demonstrated by connection to cathodes prepared by co‐immobilisation of [Os(2,2′‐bipyridine)2(polyvinylimidazole)10Cl+] redox polymer, Myrothecium verrucaria bilirubin oxidase and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes on graphite electrodes. Power densities of up to 285 μW cm−2, 146 μW cm−2 and 60 μW cm−2 are achieved in pseudo‐physiological buffer, artificial plasma and human plasma respectively, showing promise for in vivo or ex vivo power generation under these conditions.