NAMS 2002 Workshop - ICOM 2008

Hybrid and Novel Processes I – 6
Monday July 14, 5:00 PM-5:30 PM, Kaua’i
Electrocatalytic Membranes for Glucose/O2 Biofuel Cell.
M. Géraldine (Speaker), European Membrane Institute, France,
T. Sophie, European Membrane Institute, France, sophie.tingry@iemm.univ-montp2.fr
R. Marc, European Membrane Institute, France
C. Marc, European Membrane Institute, France
I. Christophe, European Membrane Institute, France
The constant increase in energy consumption in our modern society and the
significant environmental impact involved in the use of non- renewable energy
sources will shortly force us to find an alternative method of energy production. A
fuel cell usually relies on hydrogen as carburant and oxygen as oxidant to
generate power through the electrochemical conversion of fuels directly into
electricity. Because electrical energy is generated without combustion, fuel cells
are an extremely attractive option from an environmental standpoint. The
incurred redox reactions generate electrons at the electrodes and consequently a
voltage, accompanied by the production of water and heat. Biofuel cells use
biocatalysts, to convert chemical energy into electrical energy at room
temperature and under physiological conditions. The development of these
systems focuses on the different methods of enzyme immobilisation and the
establishment of their electrical connection to the electrodes. Efficient connection
is achieved by the use of appropriate redox mediators which can shuttle
electrons between the active site of the enzymes and the electrode surfaces.
Surface-immobilized mediators and enzymes are the key factors to improving
electron transfer at the electrode interface. Some approaches have been devised
to construct a glucose/O2 biofuel cell by exploiting the oxidation of glucose
coupled to the reduction of dissolved oxygen. Glucose is electrooxidized at the
anode to gluconolactone by glucose oxidase and dioxygen is reduced to water at
the cathode by specific enzymes such as laccase [1] The recent investigations in
biofuel cells [2] are devoted to miniature and implantable cells that appear to be
alternative methods of producing low power energy. This research field is
currently under extensive development at an international level. The objective is
the construction of a glucose/O2 biofuel cell, both efficient and stable. The
application of this device is to generate electrical current to supply micro-
machines, biosensors, or even implantable sources.
The originality of our work, compared to literature, concerns the structure and the
porous nature of the electrodes. Carbon porous tubes were used as original
conducting membrane support for enzyme incorporation and for transport of
dissolved dioxygen solution via convective flow, through the porosity. This
membrane allows the enzymatic reaction with dioxygen and the electrochemical