Performance comparison with different methods for ethanol/O2 biofuel cell based on NAD+ cofactor immobilized and activated by two types of carbon nanoparticles

Abstract

Biofuel cells are an attractive alternative to conventional fuel cells, because they use biological catalysts. We report in this article the construction of an ethanol/O2 enzymatic biofuel cell. In the first time, the performance comparison with different methods for ethanol/O2 biofuel cell has been study. Alcohol dehydrogenase, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent enzyme, is immobilized with NAD+, diaphorase, and vitamin K3 (VK3) on the electrode. The oxygen is reduced at the cathode with laccase and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS). The performances of the electrodes are improved thanks to addition of carbon powder (KS6 and Super P® carbon). The benefit of the carbon particles with higher surface porosity was explained by the high-porous structure that offered a closer proximity to the reactive species and improved diffusion of ethanol and oxygen within the enzyme films. Efficiency of immobilization of NAD+ cofactor has been also demonstrated. We have shown the effect of multi-enzymatic reaction at the anode on the storage and operational stability. A high open-circuit potential has been recorded 1.02 V, demonstrating the benefit of NAD+ immobilization with maximal power density of 300 μW cm−2. Chronoamperometric measurements show a current density of 90 μA cm−2 during 20 h demonstrating the operational stability of the ethanol biofuel cell based on NAD+ cofactor immobilization.