Recent advances on enzymatic glucose/oxygen and hydrogen/oxygen biofuel cells: Achievements and limitations

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 325; pp. 252 - 263
• Main Authors: Cosnier, Serge, J. Gross, Andrew, Le Goff, Alan, Holzinger, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Biocathode; Chemical Sciences; Enzyme biofuel cell; Enzyme wiring; Glucose; Hydrogen biofuel cell; Implanted biofuel cell; Hydrogen biofuel cell; Enzyme biofuel cell; Enzyme wiring; Biocathode; Glucose; Implanted biofuel cell
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.05.133

The possibility of producing electrical power from chemical energy with biological catalysts has induced the development of biofuel cells as viable energy sources for powering portable and implanted electronic devices. These power sources employ biocatalysts, called enzymes, which are highly specific and catalytic towards the oxidation of a biofuel and the reduction of oxygen or hydrogen peroxide. Enzymes, on one hand, are promising candidates to replace expensive noble metal-based catalysts in fuel cell research. On the other hand, they offer the exciting prospect of a new generation of fuel cells which harvest energy from body fluids. Biofuel cells which use glucose as a fuel are particularly interesting for generating electricity to power electronic devices inside a living body. Hydrogen consuming biofuel cells represent an emerging alternative to platinum catalysts due to comparable efficiencies and the capability to operate at lower temperatures. Currently, these technologies are not competitive with existing commercialised fuel cell devices due to limitations including insufficient power outputs and lifetimes. The advantages and challenges facing glucose biofuel cells for implantation and hydrogen biofuel cells will be summarised along with recent promising advances and the future prospects of these exotic energy-harvesting devices. [Display omitted] •This review describes the field of implantable biofuel cells.•Biocompatibility sterilisation and lifetime of in vivo biofuel cell are discussed.•Recent advances in biocathode configuration and enzyme orientation.•An overview of recent advances in the field of hydrogen biofuel cells.•Impact of new nanostructured electrode materials for enzyme wiring.