Enzyme Electrode, and Device, Sensor, Fuel Cell and Electrochemical Reactor Employing the Enzyme Electrode

• US 20080248354A1
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yano, Tetsuya, Nomoto, Tsuyoshi, Kubo, Wataru
• Application Number:
  US10/571,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248354A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/27
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/004 mediator-assisted
• 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

An enzyme electrode has a conductive member and an enzyme, wherein the conductive member has a porous structure, and the enzyme is immobilized through a carrier in pores constituting the porous structure. An enzyme electrode device, comprises the enzyme electrode, and wiring connected to the conductive member of the enzyme electrode.

Claims

1. An enzyme electrode having a conductive member and an enzyme, wherein the conductive member has a porous structure, and the enzyme is immobilized through a carrier in pores constituting the porous structure.

2. The enzyme electrode according to claim 1, wherein the size of the pores on the surface side of porous structure of the conductive member is larger than the size of the pores in the interior of the conductive member.

3. The enzyme electrode according to claim 1, wherein the enzyme electrode contains a mediator for promoting transfer of electrons between the enzyme and the conductive member.

4. The enzyme electrode according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductive member comprises at least one of materials selected from metals, conductive polymers, metal oxides, and carbonaceous materials.

5. The enzyme electrode according to claim 1, wherein the enzyme is a redox enzyme.

6. The enzyme electrode according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member has at least two working faces opposing each other, and a liquid is permeable through the numerous voids between the two faces.

7. An enzyme electrode device, comprising the enzyme electrode set forth in claim 6, and wiring connected to the conductive member of the enzyme electrode.

8. The enzyme electrode device according to claim 7, wherein plural enzyme electrodes are laminated with the working faces thereof opposed.

9. A sensor, employing the enzyme electrode device set forth in claim 7 or 8 as a detector for detecting a substance.

10. A fuel cell having an anode and a cathode, and a region for retaining an electrolytic solution between the anode and cathode, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode is the enzyme electrode device set forth in claim 7 or 8.

11. An electrochemical reactor having a reaction region, and an electrode for causing an electrochemical reaction of a source material introduced to the reaction region, wherein the electrode is the enzyme electrode device set forth in claim 7 or 8.

12. A process for producing an enzyme electrode, comprising steps of:

providing a conductive member having numerous voids communicating with each other and communicating with the outside, and a carrier for immobilizing an enzyme for transfer of electrons to or from the conductive member; and

immobilizing the enzyme in the voids with immobilization of the carrier in the voids.

13. A fuel cell, wherein an anode and a cathode have a porous structure, and at least one of the anode and the cathode is an enzyme electrode having an enzyme in pores constituting the porous structure.

14. The fuel cell according to claim 13, wherein the size of the pores on the surface side of the enzyme structure is larger than the size of the pores in the interior of the enzyme electrode.