A glucose/hydrogen peroxide biofuel cell that uses oxidase and peroxidase as catalysts by composite bulk-modified bioelectrodes based on a solid binding matrix A. Pizzariello a, * , M. Stred’ansky a , S. Miertus ˇ b a POLYtech Scarl, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy b ICS-UNIDO, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy Received 1 June 2001; received in revised form 26 November 2001; accepted 21 December 2001 Abstract An improved composite bulk-modified bioelectrode setup based on a solid binding matrix (SBM) has been used to develop a glucose/ hydrogen peroxide biofuel cell. Fuel is combined through a catalytically promoted reaction with oxygen into and oxidized species and electricity. The present work explores the feasibility of a sugar-feed biofuel cell based on SBM technology. The biofuel cell that utilizes mediators as electron transporters from the glucose oxidation pathway of the enzyme directly to electrodes is considered in this work. The anode was a glucose oxidase (GOx, EC 1.1.3.4)/ferrocene-modified SBM/graphite composite electrode. The cathode was a horseradish peroxidase (HRP, EC 1.11.1.7)/ferrocene-modified SBM/graphite composite electrode. The composite transducer material was layered on a wide polymeric surface to obtain the biomodified electrodic elements, anodes and cathodes and were assembled into a biofuel cell using glucose and H 2 O 2 as the fuel substrate and the oxidizer. The electrochemical properties and the characteristics of single composite bioelectrodes are described. The open-circuit voltage of the cell was 0.22 V, and the power output of the cell was 0.15 AW/cm 2 at 0.021 V. The biofuel cell proved to be stable for an extended period of continuous work (30 days). The reproducibility of the biotransducers fabrication was also investigated. In addition, an application of presented biofuel cell, e.g. the use of hydrolyzed corn syrup as renewable biofuels, was discussed. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Biofuel cell; Solid binding matrix; Spray-printing technology; Renewable fuels 1. Introduction The bioelectrochemical generation of power is well known in the prior art [1,2]. It is also known that biological process of living organisms can be utilized to enhance the generation of electrical power [3–5]. This approach repre- sents an interesting method to supply energy to low power electrically activated smart materials that can be directly used in a wide variety of applications such as microdevices, nanorobots, micropumps, pacemakers, neuromorphic cir- cuits, etc. [6 –8]. Several electrochemical cells utilizing the biological process of living organisms are shown in pre- vious literature [9–11], but almost all of them utilize a free liquid cellular suspension in conjunction with the electrodes to generate electrical power. However, all of the prior art devices and process show serious drawbacks because of their complexity, size, limitation on power generation, poor reproducibility and reduced longevity due to the fact that the bacteria apparently were short lived and the cell could operate only few days before showing a marked decrease in ability to generate power. Another problem, although not stated but widely understood, is the health hazard posed by sludge battery. A sludge battery contains pathogens and this would pose a very real health concern if the battery leaks. Alternatively, a series of biocatalysts participate in the electron transfer chain between the fuel substrates and the electrode surfaces [12]. That is, instead of microorganisms, redox enzymes facilitate the electron transfer between sub- strates and electrode interfaces, thereby enhancing the cell current. Redox enzymes, electrocatalysts and electrobioca- talysts were used as dissolved forms into electrolytes [13] or as immobilized species on the electrode surfaces [14–16]. The recently reported setups have proved to be effective even though they may present important drawbacks such as a considerable variability of the bioactive electrodic layer, an uncertain storage and operational stability, tedious pre- 1567-5394/02/$ - see front matter D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII:S1567-5394(02)00026-9 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-40-9228110; fax: +39-40-9228101. E-mail address: biosensors _ actuators@altavista.com (A. Pizzariello). www.elsevier.com/locate/bioelechem Bioelectrochemistry 56 (2002) 99 – 105