(135c) Performance Characterizations of Nano-Bio-Catalysts for Enzymatic Biofuel Cells

Carbon-based nanomaterials as a support for enzyme immobilization hold a great potential to fabricate the enzyme electrode that meet both high power density and long-term stability requirements for the successful applications of enzymatic biofuel cells. In this paper, we will immobilize our model anode and cathode enzymes over various carbon nano-materials to form high performing enzyme electrodes via nano-confinement and/or multipoint crosslinking approaches. In terms of achieving the high power density output, we will explore a large surface area of carbon nano-materials for improving the enzyme loading per a unit geometrical surface area of electrodes for enzymatic biofuel cells. By increasing the enzyme loading, the available active sites for electron generation also increases in case of the enzyme anode. As the more number of electrons are generated, a probability of “collecting” them at the anode current collector would increase as well. Furthermore, carbon-based nanomaterials possess a high electronic conductivity, which can enhance the electron transfer rate of enzyme electrodes by decreasing its ohmic overpotential. In terms of achieving the high stability, we will explore the nano-confinement and/or multipoint crosslinking effect of enzymes. The electrochemical activities and long-term stability of these enzyme electrodes will be evaluated and correlated to their enzyme immobilization process parameters and their structures. Based on this performance-structure relationship, we will further optimize their electrochemical performances toward the biofuel cell applications.