Self-encapsulated enzyme through in-situ growth of polypyrrole for high-performance enzymatic biofuel cell

Abstract

Lacking of electron flow pathway within enzymes, enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) always suffer from low power and poor stability, which limits their further application. Aiming to improve enzyme’s conductivity and stability, we constructed a conductive enzyme nanocapsule n(GOx-PPy). A self-encapsulation was triggered by adding glucose to initiate an in-situ growth of PPy network within and around the glucose oxidase (GOx). Conductive pathways, as well as protective shell, were formed between single GOx active site and PPy network, allowing enhanced electron transfer and enzymatic stability. The n(GOx-PPy)-based EBFC demonstrated 245-fold increased power output, providing a promising strategy for constructing high-performance EBFCs.