Recent Progress on the Development of Biofuel Cells for Self‐Powered Electrochemical Biosensing and Logic Biosensing: A Review

Abstract

AbstractBiofuel cells (BFCs) based on enzymes and microorganisms have been recently received considerable attention because they are recognized as an attractive type of energy conversion technology. In addition to the research activities related to the application of BFCs as power source, we have witnessed recently a growing interest in using BFCs for self‐powered electrochemical biosensing and electrochemical logic biosensing applications. Compared with traditional biosensors, one of the most significant advantages of the BFCs‐based self‐powered electrochemical biosensors and logic biosensors is their ability to detect targets integrated with chemical‐to‐electrochemical energy transformation, thus obviating the requirement of external power sources. Following my previous review (Electroanalysis­ 2012, 24, 197–209), the present review summarizes, discusses and updates the most recent progress and latest advances on the design and construction of BFCs‐based self‐powered electrochemical biosensors and logic biosensors. In addition to the traditional approaches based on substrate effect, inhibition effect, blocking effect and gene regulation effect for BFCs‐based self‐powered electrochemical biosensors and logic biosensors design, some new principles including enzyme effect, co‐stabilization effect, competition effect and hybrid effect are summarized and discussed by me in details. The outlook and recommendation of future directions of BFCs‐based self‐powered electrochemical biosensors and logic biosensors are discussed in the end.