Cellulose nanofiber-based electrode as a component of an enzyme-catalyzed biofuel cell

Many types of flexible, wearable, and disposable electronic devices have been developed as chemical and physical sensors, and many solar cells contain plastics. However, because of environmental pollution caused by microplastics, plastic use is being reduced worldwide. We have developed an enzyme-catalyzed biofuel cell utilizing cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as an electrode component. The electrode was made conductive by mixing multi-walled carbon nanotubes with the CNF. This prepared biofuel cell was wearable, flexible, hygroscopic, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and readily disposable like paper. The CNF-based enzyme-catalyzed biofuel cell contained a flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase bioanode and laccase biocathode. The maximum voltage and maximum current density of the biofuel cell were 434 mV and 176 μA cm⁻², respectively, at room temperature (15–18 °C). The maximum power output was 27 μW cm⁻², which was converted to 483 (±13) μW cm⁻³.

Cellulose nanofiber-based biofuel cell with flexible, biodegradable, eco-friendly.

Cholate Adsorption Behavior at Carbon Electrode Interface and Its Promotional Effect in Laccase Direct Bioelectrocatalysis

Fast electron transfer between laccase (Lac) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can be achieved at a cholate-modified SWCNT interface. Furthermore, the catalytic reduction of O2 starts at a high potential, close to the equilibrium redox potential of the O2/H2O couple. A sodium cholate (SC)-modified electrode interface provides suitable conditions for Lac direct bioelectrocatalysis. In the present study, the SC promotional effect in Lac direct bioelectrocatalysis was investigated using various types of electrode materials. The fully hydrophilic surface of indium tin oxide and an Au electrode surface did not show a SC promotional effect, because SC did not bind to these surfaces. A carbon surface with a large number of defects was unsuitable for SC binding because of hydrophilic functional groups at the defect sites. Carbon surfaces with few defects, for example, basal-plane highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), gave a SC promotional effect.