Wearable high-powered biofuel cells using enzyme/carbon nanotube composite fibers on textile cloth

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2019-09, Vol.141, p.111471-111471, Article 111471
• Main Authors: Yin, Sijie, Jin, Zewen, Miyake, Takeo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioelectric Energy Sources; Bioelectrode; Biofuel cell; Biosensing Techniques; Cotton Fiber - analysis; Electrodes; Enzyme-nanotube hybrid; Enzymes, Immobilized - chemistry; Equipment Design; Glucose - chemistry; Glucose 1-Dehydrogenase - chemistry; Humans; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Nanotubes, Carbon - ultrastructure; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors - chemistry; Series-connection; Wearable Electronic Devices; Wearable power source
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111471

Wearable biofuel cells with flexible enzyme/carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers were designed on a cotton textile cloth by integrating two components: bioanode fibers for glucose oxidation and O2-diffusion biocathode fibers for oxygen reduction. The anode and cathode fibers were prepared through modification with glucose dehydrogenase and bilirubin oxidase, respectively, on multi-walled carbon nanotube-coated carbon fibers. Both biofibers woven on the cloth generated a power density of 48 μW/cm2 at 0.24 V from 0.1 mM glucose (human sweat amount), and of 216 μW/cm2 at 0.36 V, when glucose was supplied from a hydrogel tank containing 200 mM glucose. Our fiber-based biofuel cell deformed to an S-shape without a significant loss in cell performance. Furthermore, we demonstrated a series-connection involving the tying of biofibers on a cloth with batik-based ionic isolation. The booster four cells generate power at 1.9 V that illuminated an LED on the cloth. •Wearable biofuel cell was developed with flexible enzyme/CNT fibers woven on cotton textile cloth.•The bioanode for glucose oxidation and oxygen-diffusion biocathode fibers are prepared through modification with glucose dehydrogenase and bilirubin oxidase, respectively, on CNT decorated carbon fibers.•Both biofibers are woven on the cloth and generate a power density of 48 μW/cm2 at 0.24 V from artificial sweat glucose (0.1 mM) and of 216 μW/cm2 at 0.36 V, when glucose is supplied from a hydrogel tank containing 200 mM glucose.•Our fiber-based biofuel cell functions well even when deformed to the S-shape without significant loss of cell performance.•A series connection of tying biofibers on cloth with batik-based ionic isolation was demonstrated for illuminating a LED.