Polypyrrole nanowire-based enzymatic biofuel cells

Glucose/O2 biofuel cells with an improved power density were developed, using polypyrrole (PPy) nanowires containing glucose oxidase and 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid hydrate as an anode. The PPy nanowire anode was made by electropolymerizing within the nanopores of an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template, and then dissolving the AAO template. The nanowire-type biofuel cell exhibited a higher power density than the film-type biofuel cell by two orders of magnitude; this was likely due to an increase in surface area and enzyme loading. Additionally, we constructed a glucose/O2 biofuel cell covered with a fluidic channel. Biofuel cells with and without a fluidic channel had comparable performance, demonstrating the feasibility of integrated biofuel cells within a fluidic cell.