A Glucose Biofuel Cell Equipped in the Fluid Reservoir of a Polyimide Diaphragm Micropump

Abstract

We fabricated a micropump with a polyimide (PI) diaphragm (53 μm thick, 7 mm diameter) on a silicon chip using microfabrication processes, and a glucose biofuel cell was inserted into the fluid chamber of the micropump. The biofuel cell was fabricated on another PI film, with glucose oxidase immobilized on its porous carbon anode and bilirubin oxidase immobilized on the porous carbon cathode. Each semicircular electrode area was 14.1 mm 2 with a radius of 3 mm, and the gap between the anode and cathode was 1 mm.The device generated electricity by feeding an aqueous solution of glucose directly onto the electrodes in the micropump chamber. The maximum generated power, 0.076 μW at 98 mV, corresponding to a power density of 0.556 μW/cm 2 , was realized when a 100 mM glucose solution was introduced under diaphragm pressures alternating between 0 and 30 kPa at a pumping frequency of 3 Hz. A longer power generation lifetime was observed under fuel flow driven by micropump operation.

Miniaturized ascorbic acid fuel cells with flexible electrodes made of graphene-coated carbon fiber cloth

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Furthermore, glucose BFCs with microfluidic channels have been investigated to further increase the power densities of MEMS glucose BFCs. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] However, it is also important to increase the quantity of enzymes and to immobilize them at the electrode surfaces to increase the power density. [19][20][21] Carbon materials have been extensively investigated as materials for these BFCs.…”

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Liquid Propagation at Microchannel Junction using ESEM

“…In recent years, the three-dimensional microfluidic devices have been actively studied in varieties of fields such as electric, biological, and medical industries [1][2][3][4][5][6]. For extension to the threedimensional, the micro channel and tube applications are recognized as the important key technologies.…”