An Intrinsic Self‐Charging Biosupercapacitor Comprised of a High‐Potential Bioanode and a Low‐Potential Biocathode

• Published in: ChemPlusChem (Weinheim, Germany) Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 576 - 583
• Main Authors: Alsaoub, Sabine, Ruff, Adrian, Conzuelo, Felipe, Ventosa, Edgar, Ludwig, Roland, Shleev, Sergey, Schuhmann, Wolfgang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.04.2017
• Subjects: biosupercapacitors; energy storage; enzyme electrodes; Os complexes; redox polymers; biosupercapacitors; energy storage; redox polymers; enzyme electrodes; Os complexes
• ISSN: 2192-6506; 2192-6506
• DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201700114

An intrinsic self‐charging biosupercapacitor built on a unique concept for the fabrication of biodevices based on redox polymers is presented. The biosupercapacitor consists of a high‐potential redox polymer based bioanode and a low‐potential redox polymer based biocathode in which the potentials of the electrodes in the discharged state show an apparent potential mismatch Eanode>Ecathode and prevent the use of the device as a conventional biofuel cell. Upon charging, the potentials of the electrodes are shifted to more positive (cathode) and more negative (anode) values because of a change in the aox‐to‐ared ratio within the redox polymer matrix. Hence, a potential inversion occurs in the charged state (Eanode<Ecathode) and an open circuit voltage of >0.4 V is achieved and the biodevice acts as a true biosupercapacitor. The bioanode consists of a novel specifically designed high‐potential Os complex modified polymer for the efficient immobilization and electrical wiring of glucose converting enzymes, such as glucose oxidase and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase. The cathodic side is constructed from a low‐potential Os complex modified polymer integrating the O2 reducing enzyme, bilirubin oxidase. The large potential differences between the redox polymers and the prosthetic groups of the biocatalysts ensure fast and efficient charging of the biodevice. A self‐charging biosupercapacitor based on a high‐potential redox polymer bioanode and a low‐potential redox polymer biocathode with a potential mismatch in the discharged state provides a potential inversion with an open circuit voltage of >0.4 V upon charging (see figure). The large potential differences between the redox polymers and the prosthetic groups of the biocatalysts ensure fast and efficient charging of the device.