Integrated biofuel cell with aligned nanotube electrodes and method of use thereof

• US 20080160384A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Iqbal, Zafar, Wang, Yubing
• Granted Patent: US 8,785,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8647 consisting of more than one material, e.g. consisting of composites
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8803 Supports for the deposition of the catalytic active composition H01M4/90 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/90 Selection of catalytic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9083 on carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a method of forming, producing or manufacturing functionalized and soluble nanomaterials, most specifically carbon nanotubes on a substrate, which can be used in the production or manufacture of biofuel cells. One embodiment provides for the coupling of biofuel cells with a nanomaterial, wherein the nanomaterial supports catalytic enzymes. Another embodiment provides for a biofuel cell which uses enzymes immobilized on nanomaterials as electrodes. Another embodiment provides for the construction of a biofuel cell, wherein the application of a microwave process, and/or an electrochemical technique, is used to develop a biofuel cell having nanomaterial/enzyme-based electrodes on a substrate. Another embodiment provides for a composite of nanomaterial grown on a substrate, coupled to tethered or bonded enzymes, which makes it possible to fabricate direct electron transfer electrodes. Another embodiment provides for an implanted device. Another embodiment provides for a biofuel cell that can also function as a biosensor. A method for producing a nanomaterial-substrate system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A biofuel cell system comprising:

an anode electrically coupled to a cathode;

an electrolyte in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode;

a first nanomaterial on a first substrate, the first nanomaterial on the first substrate having at least one first enzyme immobilized with respect to the first nanomaterial as the anode;

a second nanomaterial on a second substrate, the second nanomaterial on the second substrate having at least one second enzyme immobilized with respect to the second nanomaterial as the cathode.

2. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second nanomaterial is selected from the group consisting of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), carbon nanohoms, fullerenes, nano onions, nanocomposites and combinations thereof.

3. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first enzyme is immobilized with respect to the first nanomaterial by an electrochemical process;

and

wherein the at least one second enzyme is immobilized with respect to the second nanomaterial by an electrochemical process.

4. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first enzyme is immobilized with respect to the first nanomaterial by a microwave-assisted process;

and

wherein the at least one second enzyme is immobilized with respect to the second nanomaterial by a microwave-assisted process.

5. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first enzyme immobilized with respect to the first nanomaterial as the anode includes glucose oxidase (GOx);

and

wherein the at least one second enzyme immobilized with respect to the second nanomaterial as the cathode includes bilirubin oxidase (BOD).

6. The biofuel cell system of claim 5, wherein the electrolyte includes 100 mM β

-D-glucose in pH 7 phosphate buffer.

7. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first enzyme immobilized with respect to the first nanomaterial as the anode includes glucose oxidase (GOx);

and

wherein the at least one second enzyme immobilized with respect to the second nanomaterial as the cathode includes laccase.

8. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the first and second substrates are silicon.

9. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the first and second substrates are porous silicon.

10. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the first and second substrates are polymeric substrates.

11. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the first and second substrates are nanotube membranes.

12. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the first and second nanomaterials are vertically oriented on the first and second substrates.

13. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, wherein at least one micro-fluidic channel is located on the first substrate, and wherein at least one micro-fluidic channel is located on the second substrate.

14. The biofuel cell system of claim 13, wherein the at least one micro-fluidic channel located on the first substrate suctionally communicates with the first nanomaterial;

and

wherein the at least one micro-fluidic channel located on the second substrate suctionally communicates with the second nanomaterial.

15. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising at least two fullerene molecules, wherein at least one fullerene molecule is chemically tethered to the first nanomaterial, and

wherein at least one fullerene molecule is chemically tethered to the second nanomaterial.

16. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising a porous polymer, and

wherein the electrolyte is immobilized in the pores of the porous polymer.

17. The biofuel cell system of claim 16, wherein the porous polymer is poly-tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

18. The biofuel cell system of claim 16, wherein the biofuel cell system is utilized as an implanted device.

19. The biofuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising a bio-compatible polymer,

wherein the bio-compatible polymer encompasses the biofuel cell system.

20. The biofuel cell system of claim 19, wherein the biofuel cell system is utilized as an implanted device.

21. A method for producing a nanomaterial substrate system comprising:

providing nanomaterial on a substrate;

utilizing a catalyst deposition step to deposit catalyst/promoter precursor on the substrate,

utilizing a chemical vapor deposition (“

CVD”

) step;

immobilizing at least one enzyme to the nanomaterial.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the nanomaterial is selected from the group consisting of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), carbon nanohorns, fullerenes, nano onions, nanocomposites and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the substrate is silicon.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the substrate is porous silicon.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the substrate is a polymeric substrate.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the substrate is a nanotube membrane.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the nanomaterial is vertically oriented on the substrate.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the catalyst/promoter precursor is deposited on the substrate with a dip coating technique.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the catalyst/promoter precursor is deposited on the substrate with a spin coating technique.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the chemical vapor deposition (“

CVD”

) step includes ethanol chemical vapor deposition.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one enzyme includes β

-NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) synthetase.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of utilizing the nanomaterial substrate system as a biosensor.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of utilizing the nanomaterial substrate system as an enzymatic sensing electrode in a biofuel cell.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of utilizing the nanomaterial substrate system as a glucose bio-sensor in a biofuel cell consisting of a platinum electrode,

wherein the nanomaterial includes SWNTs and the at least one enzyme includes glucose oxidase (GOx).

35. An electrode comprising:

nanomaterial vertically oriented on a substrate,

at least one enzyme immobilized with respect to the nanomaterial.

36. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the nanomaterial is selected from the group consisting of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), carbon nanohorns, fullerenes, nano onions, nanocomposites and combinations thereof.

37. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the at least one enzyme is immobilized with respect to the nanomaterial by an electrochemical process.

38. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the at least one enzyme is immobilized with respect to the nanomaterial by a microwave-assisted process.

39. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of silicon, porous silicon, polymeric substrates, and nanotubes membranes.

40. The electrode of claim 35, wherein at least one micro-fluidic channel is located on the substrate.

41. The electrode of claim 40, wherein the at least one micro-fluidic channel located on the substrate suctionally communicates with the nanomaterial.

42. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the electrode is utilized as an enzymatic sensor in a biofuel cell.

43. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the electrode is utilized as a nanoelectrode in an electrochemical cell.

44. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the electrode is utilized as a biosensor.

45. The electrode of claim 35, wherein the electrode is utilized in a biofuel cell.