Effect of support on power output of ethanol/O₂ biofuel cell

Abstract

Enzymatic biofuel cells have many great usages as a small power source for medical and environmental applications. In this paper, we employed carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotube- (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethyl sulfonyl) imide) ionic liquid nanocomposite on two different electrodes (glassy carbon and carbon felt) for immobilizing alcohol dehydrogenase. The properties of the two types of electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry analysis. Polarization analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to show differences in the nanobiocomposite immobilization on two electrodes. Compared to glassy carbon, carbon felt achieved much more gains in electrochemical activity and power by catalyst coating. Power density of 10.027μWcm⁻², has been achieved by carbon felt, but glassy carbon showed 1.7 μWcm⁻²respectively.