Microfluidic Rapid Prototype Enzymatic Biofuel Cell Based on a Nanocomposite

Fariba Mashayekhi Mazar,Payam Heydari,Ahmad Molaei Rad,Mahdi Alijanianzadeh

doi:10.3389/fmech.2021.599414

Abstract

Here, a low-cost glucose/O2 Y-shaped microfluidic biofuel cell was developed using a printed circuit board for microelectrode construction. A double-side tape based on the pressure-sensitive adhesive was used for microchannel fabrication. A nanocomposite that consisted of reduced graphene oxide gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and poly neutral red connected to enzymes was applied on the copper electrode surface. The Aspergillus niger glucose oxidase enzyme and Mytheliophthora thermophile laccase were used to prepare the modified anodic and cathodic electrodes. Different procedures such as cyclic voltammetry scanning electron microscope coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and atomic force microscopy were used to scan the modified electrodes. SEM/EDX microanalysis displayed the structural and morphological properties of the proposed nanocomposite. The biofuel cell performance demonstrated a maximum power density of 36 μW cm−2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.5 V, and a flow rate of 50 μl min−1. The proposed rapid technique with RGO/AuNPs/PNR bioelectrodes is a good approach for finding low-cost microfluidic biofuel cells.

Highlights

Nowadays, there is an increasing trend towards miniature biofuel cells over conventional fuel cells in portable devices due to their many benefits like being lightweight, relatively cheap rate, biocompatible with a number of biosystems, and able to operate under moderate temperature and pH conditions to produce green energy (Yang et al, 2018; Lee and Kjeang, 2010; Zebda et al, 2011b)
González-Guerrero et al (2013) made one microfluidic biofuel cell using rapid prototyping technique that consisted of a cathode by anthracene-modified multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/LAC/Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) Nafion and a glucose oxidase (GOx)/Ferrocenium-based polyethyleneimine polymer (Fc-C6-LPEI) bioanode (González-Guerrero et al, 2013)
A glucose microfluidic enzyme biofuel cell developed by Beneyton et al (2013) used lithography and PDMS based on LAC and GOx covalently bound onto single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) electrodes

Summary

Introduction

There is an increasing trend towards miniature biofuel cells over conventional fuel cells in portable devices due to their many benefits like being lightweight, relatively cheap rate, biocompatible with a number of biosystems, and able to operate under moderate temperature and pH conditions to produce green energy (Yang et al, 2018; Lee and Kjeang, 2010; Zebda et al, 2011b). Microfluidic, Enzymatic Biofuel Cell, RGO/AuNPs/PNR Nanocomposite enzyme immobilization techniques and the incompatibility of enzymes with lithography processes cause limitations in research about the microfluidic systems. Moore et al (2005), for the first time, have proposed a microfluidic enzymatic biofuel cell by NAD+-based alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme on bioanode and platinum cathode, soft lithography, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) techniques (Moore et al, 2005).

Results

Conclusion