Integrated biofuel cell with aligned nanotube electrodes and method of use thereof
First Claim
1. A biofuel cell system comprising:
- an anode electrically coupled to a cathode; and
an electrolyte in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode;
wherein the anode includes a first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial on a first substrate, the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial on the first substrate having at least one first enzyme directly immobilized by the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial;
wherein the cathode includes a second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial on a second substrate, the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial on the second substrate having at least one second enzyme directly immobilized by the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial;
wherein the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial enables direct electron transfer between the first substrate and the at least one first enzyme without a need for an additional electron transfer layer or electron-transfer mediator in the anode;
wherein the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial enables direct electron transfer between the second substrate and the at least one second enzyme without a need for an additional electron transfer layer or electron-transfer mediator in the cathode;
wherein the at least one first enzyme is microwave bonded to the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial thereby immobilizing the at least one first enzyme via direct covalent bonding interaction between the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial and the at least one first enzyme; and
wherein the at least one second enzyme is microwave bonded to the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial thereby immobilizing the at least one second enzyme via direct covalent bonding interaction between the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial and the at least one second enzyme.
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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. A method for producing a nanomaterial-substrate system is also disclosed.
27 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A biofuel cell system comprising:
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an anode electrically coupled to a cathode; and an electrolyte in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode; wherein the anode includes a first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial on a first substrate, the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial on the first substrate having at least one first enzyme directly immobilized by the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial; wherein the cathode includes a second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial on a second substrate, the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial on the second substrate having at least one second enzyme directly immobilized by the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial; wherein the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial enables direct electron transfer between the first substrate and the at least one first enzyme without a need for an additional electron transfer layer or electron-transfer mediator in the anode; wherein the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial enables direct electron transfer between the second substrate and the at least one second enzyme without a need for an additional electron transfer layer or electron-transfer mediator in the cathode; wherein the at least one first enzyme is microwave bonded to the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial thereby immobilizing the at least one first enzyme via direct covalent bonding interaction between the first microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial and the at least one first enzyme; and wherein the at least one second enzyme is microwave bonded to the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial thereby immobilizing the at least one second enzyme via direct covalent bonding interaction between the second microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial and the at least one second enzyme. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An electrode comprising:
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a microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial coupled directly to a substrate, and at least one enzyme directly immobilized by the microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial; wherein the microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial enables direct electron transfer between the substrate and the at least one enzyme without a need for an additional electron transfer layer or electron-transfer mediator; and wherein the at least one enzyme is microwave bonded to the microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial thereby immobilizing the at least one enzyme via direct covalent bonding interaction between the microwave functionalized carbon nanomaterial and the at least one enzyme. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification