Characteristics of a miniature compartment-less glucose-O2 biofuel cell and its operation in a living plant

We report the temperature, pH, glucose concentration, NaCl concentration, and operating atmosphere dependence of the power output of a compartment-less miniature glucose-O-2 biofuel cell, comprised only of two bioelectrocatalyst-coated carbon fibers, each of 7 mum diameter and 2 cm length (Mano, N.; Mao, F.; Heller, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 12962). The bioelectrocatalyst of the anode consists of glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger electrically "wired" by polymer 1, having a redox potential of -0.19 V vs Ag/AgCl. That of the cathode consists of bilirubin oxidase from Trachyderma tsunodae "wired" by polymer 11 having a redox potential of +0.36 V vs Ag/AgCl (Mano, N.; Kim, H.-H.; Zhang, Y.; Heller, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 6480. Mano, N.; Kim, H.-H.; Heller, A. J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 8842). Implantation of the fibers in the grape leads to an operating biofuel cell producing 2.4 muW at 0.52 V.