Preparation and characterization of bioanodos for biofuel cell glucose/O2 using PAMAM dendrimer as immobilization matrix

Abstract

As an alternative to the traditional fuel cells employing noble metal catalysts, the biofuel cells, in particular, are capable of converting chemical energy into electricity using biological molecules as catalysts. The biofuel cells offer several advantages over traditional batteries, including the use of renewable and clean catalysts, reaction selectivity, fuel flexibility, and possibility to operate at milder temperatures; characteristics that allow the achievement of an economically viable process. Although many improvements have been obtained in the past years, critical points in the construction of a biofuel cell such as the enzyme lifetime, achievement of higher power density values and higher efficiency in the electron transfer between the enzyme active site to the electrode surface are still obstacles to be overcome. Glucose has been widely studied as a fuel in biofuel cell works, because it is abundant in nature and in the bloodstream, has low volatility, is non-toxic to humans and is inexpensive. These characteristics together with its relatively high energy density make this fuel very attractive in this field. In this context, our research team has been exploiting the use of polyamidoamine dendrimers (PAMAM) in the preparation of bioelectrodes for biofuel cell application. This research project aims the development of a biofuel cell based glucose/O2 using PAMAM dendrimers as a matrix for the immobilization of glucose oxidase onto carbon platforms. (AU)