Stretchable biofuel cells as wearable textile-based self-powered sensors

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 4; no. 47; pp. 18342 - 18353
• Main Authors: Jeerapan, Itthipon, Sempionatto, Juliane R., Pavinatto, Adriana, You, Jung-Min, Wang, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 21.12.2016
• Subjects: Biochemical fuel cells; biosensors; chemistry; deformation; Devices; electric potential difference; Electronics; fabrics; fuels; glucose; Inks; lactic acid; microbial fuel cells; Nanostructure; Sensors; serpentine; Stretching; sweat; synergism; Wearable; biofuel cells; self-powered sensors; wearable sensors; printed electronics; stretchable electronics
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/C6TA08358G

Highly stretchable textile-based biofuel cells (BFCs), acting as effective self-powered sensors, have been fabricated using screen-printing of customized stress-enduring inks. Due to the synergistic effects of nanomaterial-based engineered inks and the serpentine designs, these printable bioelectronic devices endure severe mechanical deformations, e.g. , stretching, indentation, or torsional twisting. Glucose and lactate BFCs with single-enzyme and membrane-free configurations generated the maximum power densities of 160 and 250 μW cm −2 with the open circuit voltages of 0.44 and 0.46 V, respectively. The textile-BFCs were able to withstand repeated severe mechanical deformations with minimal impact on its structural integrity, as was indicated from their stable power output after 100 cycles of 100% stretching. By providing power signals proportional to the sweat fuel concentration, these stretchable devices act as highly selective and stable self-powered textile sensors. Their applicability to sock-based BFCs and self-powered biosensors and mechanically compliant operations was demonstrated on human subjects. These stretchable skin-worn “scavenge-sense-display” devices are expected to contribute to the development of skin-worn energy harvesting systems, advanced non-invasive self-powered sensors and wearable electronics on a stretchable garment.