A non-compartmentalized glucose|O2 biofuel cell by bioengineered electrode surfaces

A novel plucose /O-2 biofuel cell element was assembled by the engineering of layered bioelectrocatalytic electrodes. The anode consists of a surface reconstituted glucose oxidase monolayer, whereas the cathode is presented by the reconstituted cytochrome cytochrome oxidase couple. At the GOx monolayer-functionalized electrode, bioelectrocatalyzed oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid occurs, whereas at the Cyt c / COx layered electrode, the reduction of O-2 to water takes place. The alignment of the glucose oxidase monolayer on the electrode surface yields an extremely efficient electrical communication, and the electron transfer turnover Fare between the redox-center and the conductive support leads to an oxygen insensitive enzyme electrode. This enables the operation of the biofuel cell without the compartmentalization of the anode and the cathode. The system paves the way to tailoring invasive biofuel cells for generating electrical power. The analysis of the interfacial electron transfer processes of the electrodes suggests that by appropriate generic engineering of the proteins, and appropriate chemical architecturing of the redox-proteins on the electrodes, the extracted power of the biofuel cell element could be further improved. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.