Newly designed bioanode for glucose/O-2 biofuel cells to generate renewable energy

Abstract

A copolymer poly(methyl methacrylate-co-vinylferrocene) was synthesized and used for the first time in a biofuel cell design. Bioanaode enzyme glucose oxidase and biocathode enzyme bilirubin oxidase were physically immobilized onto the copolymer-modified electrodes. Characterization studies were conducted by scanning electron microscopy, carbon-13, fourier transform infrared and hydrogen-1 nuclear magnetic resonance, and cyclic voltammograms. The designed biofuel cell was operated with linear sweep voltammetry. The maximum current was at 45 degrees C with 120 mu g of polymer amount. An improved power density of 323 mu W cm(-2) that is higher than other ferrocene-based fuel cells was obtained with 10-mM glucose at 0.4 V with the designed bioanode.