Ionic liquid-functionalized carbon nanotube composite in bioanode for enzymatic fuel cell

A biofuel cell is an electrochemical device in which the energy stored in a fuel, such as ethanol, is converted to electrical energy by means of the catalytic activity of either an enzyme or amicroorganism. Biofuel cells have traditionally suffered from low power densities and short lifetimes due to the fragility of the bio-catalyst. Utilizing a novel ionic liquid-carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotube nanocomposite for alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme immobilization ina biofuel cell results in increasing the enzyme lifetime to commercially viable levels. Additionally, this method provides sufficient protection to develop a membraneless biofuel cell, an important step for commercialization. Previously, it has not been possible to create amembraneless style biofuel cell due to the denaturing of the enzyme that would occur at the high temperatures experienced during the heat pressing step of fabrication. A nanocomposite consisting of ionic liquid-carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotube provides sufficient protection for the alcohol dehydrogenase to retain the enzyme activity after exposure to temperatures of 40 °C. Thus, a membraneless biofuel cell was prepared. Preliminary results of the biofuel cell revealed the power density ranging from 1.7 to 10 W/cm2 and the open circuit voltage from0.599 to 0.360 V.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biofuel cell ، Bioanode ، Ionic liquid ، alcohol dehydrogenase