Preparation of hybrid nanocatalysts containing enzymes, carbon nanotubes and metallic nanoparticles for EtOH/O2 biofuel cell

Abstract

Alternatively to the conventional fuel cells that employ metal catalysts, the biofuel cell is a particular case, in which biocatalysts are used instead of traditional noble metal catalysts. The biofuel cell provides a means to obtain clean, renewable energy and has great potential for future use as an alternative energy source for low-power electronic devices. Despite some promising characteristics, many challenges still have to be faced regarding the future application of enzymatic biofuel cells. Some key issues in the development of this device, such as lifetime, stability of enzymes, achievement of higher power densities, overcoming difficulties in the electron transfer between enzymes and electrodes, and the improvement of techniques for enzyme immobilization are still important objects of research. Some new trends in biocatalysts for biofuel cell include the incorporation of nanoscale materials such as carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, nanocomposites, as well as the incorporation of metal nanoparticles into bioelectrodes. Based on the most recent works and trends that specialized literature indicates for the development of these devices, the central focus of this research project is the development of hybrid nanocatalysts containing enzymes, carbon nanotubes, and metallic nanoparticles for enzymatic biofuel cell EtOH/O2, employing two platforms for the immobilization of enzymes, namely PAMAM dendrimers and the modified-Nafion® membrane.