Abstract
The continuous search for alternative energy sources, imposed by economic and environmental concerns, has motivated investigations into clean and efficient alternatives for energy production. Studies have shown that fuel cells are a potentially efficient strategy for energy conversion. Biofuel cells constitute a subclass of fuel cells with promising application in low-power devices (generally in the order of micro to milli watts). Instead of metallic catalysts, biological power sources employ biological molecules such as enzymes, organelles, or microorganisms to convert chemical energy into electricity. Biofuel cells offer several advantages over traditional batteries, including the use of renewable and non-toxic components, reaction selectivity, fuel flexibility, and ability to operate at lower temperatures and near neutral pH. Indeed, recent papers have demonstrated the promising characteristics of these devices; however, some challenges remains to be faced despite the several advances in this area. This review aims to provide the readers of the Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society with an overview of enzymatic biofuel cells, their development since its first description in 1964, and the most recent outcomes. The latest papers in this field (including implantable technology) and an outlook for future research in this area are also presented.
Highlights
Economic and environmental factors along with the human consumption pattern have called for “clean” and efficient energy production processes
Direct processes are known as direct electron transfer (DET); processes requiring the assistance of a mediator molecule are designated mediated electron transfer (MET) (Figure 4)
For example, methylene green (MG) has a formal redox potential toward NADH oxidation of −0.122 V vs Ag/AgCl, pH 7.98 This data represents a reduction in the overpotential of around 0.4 V, which enables their use in enzymatic fuel cells employing NAD-dependent enzymes
Summary
Economic and environmental factors along with the human consumption pattern (which heavily relies on nonrenewable fuel sources) have called for “clean” and efficient energy production processes. Different types of basic fuel cells exist, depending on the type of electrolyte and operation temperature This technology offers considerable advantages over other processes, such as high conversion efficiency and generation of substantial power density.[3] fuel cells yield good results, some factors limit their large-scale application: high cost and future scarcity of noble metal catalysts (e.g., platinum, employed as base catalyst in many fuel cell devices), issues regarding electrode passivation, and inability to oxidize some byproducts of the employed fuels.[4] hydrogen production, purification, and storage (hydrogen is one of the fuels that is most often employed in traditional fuel cells) poses major technical challenges.[1]. The latest papers in this field (including implantable technology) and an outlook for future research in this area will be presented
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