Sweet Solution to Mobile Power

Chinese researchers have developed a small biofuel cell that can extract energy from soft drinks such as iced tea and fruit juices. They explain that one milliliter would be enough to power a fuel cell for a month.

The biofuel cell comprises an anode and cathode modified with single-walled carbon nanohorns to boost electron transfer. A redox mediator and the enzyme glucose dehydrogenase coupled with co-factor NAD+ at the anode allow the system to oxidize glucose. Bilirubin oxidase at the cathode concomitantly reduces oxygen from the air to water. Together, they generate an electric current.

• A single-walled carbon nanohorn-based miniature glucose/air biofuel cell for harvesting energy from soft drinks
  D. Wen, X. Xu, S. Dong,
  Energy Environ. Sci. 2011.
  DOI: 10.1039/c0ee00080a

► Also of interest:

• More Red Wine for the Superconductor
  Hot alcoholic beverages such as red wine, sake and shochu can induce superconductivity in iron-based compounds

Article Views: 1575