InN/InGaN Quantum Dot Abiotic One-Compartment Glucose Photofuel Cell: Power Supply and Sensing

Abstract

InN/InGaN quantum dots (QDs) are introduced as an efficient photoanode for a novel abiotic one-compartment photofuel cell (PFC) with a Pt cathode and glucose as a biofuel. Due to the high catalytic activity and selectivity of the InN/InGaN QDs toward oxidation reactions, the PFC operates without a membrane under physiologically mild conditions at medium to low glucose concentrations with a noble-metal-free photoanode. A relatively high short-circuit photocurrent density of 0.56 mA/cm 2 and a peak output power density of 0.22 mW/cm 2 are achieved under 1 sun illumination for a 0.1 M glucose concentration with optimized InN/InGaN QDs of the right size. The super-linear dependence of the short-circuit photocurrent density and the output power density as a function of the logarithmic glucose concentration makes the PFC well suited for sensing, covering the 4–6 mM range of glucose concentration in blood under normal conditions with good selectivity. No degradation of the PFC operation over time is observed.

Flexible and Wearable Biosensors for Monitoring Health Conditions

“…Biofuel cells have been used to sense various metabolites in sweat including glucose, growth factor, lactate, ethanol, etc. [ 217 , 218 , 219 , 220 ]. Since the deactivation or leaching of enzymes occurs with time, signal stability is a significant challenge for biofuel cells during long-term use.…”