Open Circuit Voltage and Single Walled Carbon Nanotube (wt%) Dependency in Solid-State Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor-Compatible Glucose Fuel Cells

Abstract

Solid-state complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible glucose fuel cells, with single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films and different amounts of carbon nanotube (wt%) were investigated. Those with a SWCNT content of 3 wt% were found to develop the highest open circuit voltage (OCV) of 400 mV, together with a high electrical conductivity, a power density of 0.53 μW/cm2 and current density of 1.31 μA/cm2. Measurements were performed by dipping the anode into a 30 mM glucose solution. The OCV and power density increased together with the fuel cell concentration. The developed fuel cell uses materials that are biocompatible with the human body (single-walled carbon nanotube-glucose). As a result, it was possible to attain an OCV of 400 mV with a single-walled carbon nanotube content of 3 wt% while improvements in the performance of the CMOS-compatible glucose fuel cell were obtained, and the parameters affecting the performance of the fuel cell were identified. This bio-fuel cell was fabricated using CMOS semiconductor processes on a silicon wafer. These findings are significant to realizing mobile or implantable devices that can be used for biomedical applications.