Improvement of electrical properties via glucose oxidase-immobilization by actively turning over glucose for an enzyme-based biofuel cell modified with DNA-wrapped single walled nanotubes

Abstract

One of the major areas of study associated with enzyme fuel cells (EFCs) has been identification of redox enzymes with high electron transfer rates that lead to a high power output. The effects of a method of enzyme immobilization by actively turning over glucose on the electrical properties of a fuel cell were evaluated under ambient conditions in attempt to increase the power of an EFC modified with DNA-wrapped single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The anode cyclic voltammetry (CV cycle) electrical properties increased as a result of glucose oxidase (GOD) immobilization by actively turning over glucose. Furthermore, an EFC that employed DNA-wrapped SWNTs and GOD immobilization in conjunction with protection of the active site increased the stability of the cell, which enabled maintenance of a high level of power production (ca. 730-760 mu W cm(-2)) for 1 week. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.