Structural studies of enzyme-based microfluidic biofuel cells

An enzyme-based glucose/O2 biofuel cell was constructed within a microfluidic channel to study the influence of electrode configuration and fluidic channel height on cell performance. The cell was composed of a bilirubin oxidase (BOD)-adsorbed O2 cathode and a glucose anode prepared by co-immobilization of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), diaphorase (Dp) and VK3-pendant poly-l-lysine. The consumption of O2 at the upstream cathode protected the downstream anode from interfering O2 molecules, and consequently improved the cell performance (maximum cell current) ca. 10% for the present cell. The cell performance was also affected by the channel height. The output current and power of a 0.1 mm-height cell was significantly less than those of a 1 mm-height cell because of the depletion of O2, as determined by the shape of the E–I curve at the cathode. On the other hand, the volume density of current and power was several times higher for the narrower cell.