Hybrid Power Strip
First Claim
1. A flexible biofuel cell strip apparatus comprising:
- A. an anode comprising a flat, flexible, electrically conducting substrate, carbon nanotubes, a linking polymer, and a redox enzyme wherein the enzyme is linked to the linking polymer, the linking polymer is linked to the carbon nanotubes and the carbon nanotubes are linked to the flexible substrate;
B. a fuel compartment in contact with the anode comprising a substrate for the redox enzyme, wherein the substrate is suspended or dissolved in a gel, polymer matrix, or aqueous solvent;
C. a cathode separated from the fuel compartment by a proton permeable membrane, the cathode compromising a flat, flexible, electrically conducting substrate coated with a mixture of carbon nanotubes, polymer, and nanoparticles of conducting metal;
D. a flexible wrapping surrounding A, B, and C wherein the wrapping in contact with the cathode is permeable to oxygen in the atmosphere; and
E. at least two electric leads penetrating the wrapping, one each connected lo the anode and cathode, the leads adapted for attachment to recharge a battery or power an electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a flexible hybrid biofuel cell power strip for use in low power applications (less than one Watt) such as trickle charging to extend the charge of conventional batteries or to power devices such as microsensors, micropumps and miniaturized medial devices. The power strip anode comprises carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that transfer electrons directly from the active center of an oxidation-reduction (redox) enzyme to a flexible, conductive anode substrate. This allows the building of surface architectures with pore structures customized for specific applications and enzyme substrate-containing media. The cathode comprises a catalytic layer of transition metal nanoparticle catalyst in contact with air or other source of oxygen. The flexibility of the power strip allows it to be shaped into a wide variety of conformations and applications, including attachment to or implantation within living organisms.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A flexible biofuel cell strip apparatus comprising:
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A. an anode comprising a flat, flexible, electrically conducting substrate, carbon nanotubes, a linking polymer, and a redox enzyme wherein the enzyme is linked to the linking polymer, the linking polymer is linked to the carbon nanotubes and the carbon nanotubes are linked to the flexible substrate; B. a fuel compartment in contact with the anode comprising a substrate for the redox enzyme, wherein the substrate is suspended or dissolved in a gel, polymer matrix, or aqueous solvent; C. a cathode separated from the fuel compartment by a proton permeable membrane, the cathode compromising a flat, flexible, electrically conducting substrate coated with a mixture of carbon nanotubes, polymer, and nanoparticles of conducting metal; D. a flexible wrapping surrounding A, B, and C wherein the wrapping in contact with the cathode is permeable to oxygen in the atmosphere; and E. at least two electric leads penetrating the wrapping, one each connected lo the anode and cathode, the leads adapted for attachment to recharge a battery or power an electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A flexible biofuel cell strip apparatus comprising:
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A. an anode comprising a flat, flexible, electrically conducting substrate, carbon nanotubes, a linking polymer, and a redox enzyme wherein the enzyme is linked to the linking polymer, the linking polymer is linked to the carbon nanotubes and the carbon nanotubes are linked to the flexible substrate; B. a fuel compartment in contact with the anode comprising a substrate for the redox enzyme, wherein the substrate is suspended or dissolved in a gel, polymer matrix, or aqueous solvent; C. a cathode separated from the anode only by a proton permeable membrane, the cathode compromising a flat, flexible, electrically conducting substrate coated with a mixture of carbon nanotubes, polymer, and nanoparticles of conducting metal; D. a flexible wrapping surrounding A, B, and C wherein the wrapping in contact with the cathode is permeable to oxygen in the atmosphere; and E. at least two electric leads penetrating the wrapping, one each connected to the anode and cathode, the leads adapted for attachment to recharge a battery or power an electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for harvesting electrical energy from a living organism comprising:
- a flexible biofuel cell strip comprising;
A. an anode comprising a flat, flexible, electrically conducting substrate, carbon nanotubes, a linking polymer, and a redox enzyme wherein the enzyme is linked to the linking polymer, the linking polymer is linked to the carbon nanotubes and the carbon nanotubes are linked to the flexible substrate; B. a fuel compartment in contact with the anode comprising a substrate for the redox enzyme, wherein the substrate is suspended or dissolved in a gel, polymer matrix, or aqueous solvent; C. a cathode separated from the anode only by a proton permeable membrane, the cathode compromising a flat, flexible, electrically conducting substrate coated with a mixture of carbon nanotubes, polymer, and nanoparticles of conducting metal; D. a flexible wrapping surrounding A, B, and C wherein the wrapping in contact with the cathode is permeable to oxygen in the atmosphere; and E. at least two electric leads penetrating the wrapping, one each connected to the anode and cathode, the leads adapted for attachment to recharge a battery or power an electronic device;
wherein;the fuel compartment of the flexible biofuel cell strip is in liquid communication with a fluid within an organism via at least one needle. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
- a flexible biofuel cell strip comprising;
Specification