Abstract

More and more portable electronics urgently require better batteries featuring high-energy density, good safety, and low environmental impacts. Enzymatic fuel cells are a promising micro-power source for small electronics. However, incomplete oxidation of sugars mediated by few redox enzymes and low faraday efficiency result in low energy storage densities. Here we demonstrate the complete oxidization of sucrose, glucose, and fructose at the anodic compartment of biobatteries via a synthetic 15-enzyme pathway. The biobatteries generated maximum power densities from 0.65 to 0.98 mW cm-2. Also, a nitrogen-doped activated carbon cloth was used as a flexible cathode to achieve oxygen reduction reaction faster than that catalyzed by platinum-coated membrane electrode assembly. Biobatteries comprised of 15 enzymes oxidize sucrose, fructose and glucose simultaneously, generated nearly 24 electrons per hexose with faraday efficiencies of approximately 95%. Metal-free biobatteries powered by commercial soft drinks whose energy-storage density was ~400 Ah kg-1 of drinks exhibited maximum power densities of up to 0.55 mW cm-2, implying that soft drinks could be perfect fuels for bioelectricity generation.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.