Porous hollow tubular carbon materials based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 derived from ZnO nanorods as new enzyme immobilizing matrix for high-performance bioanode of glucose/O2 biofuel cells

Abstract

In this work, Au NPs decorated porous hollow tubular carbon materials (PHTCs@Au) by direct carbonization of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) derived from ZnO nanorods were prepared and used as enzyme immobilizing matrix to construct a bioanode for glucose/O2 biofuel cells (BFCs). Due to high surface area, good electric conductivity and extraordinary porous-hollow tubular structure of PHTCs@Au, the resulted enzyme electrode (PHTCs@Au/GOD (glucose oxidase)-GA (glutaraldehyde)/glassy carbon (GC) electrode) exhibited excellent catalytic capacity towards glucose oxidation and good stability. For the assembled glucose/O2 BFC with the PHTCs@Au/GOD-GA/GC electrode as the bioanode and a commercial Pt plate electrode as the cathode, the maximum power density of 310μWcm−2 can be obtained at 0.23V, and the open circuit potential is 0.63V. The attractive features of PHTCs also provide potential applications in energy storage and conversion devices such as supercapacitor and fuel cells, etc.