Electrospinning as a simple enzyme immobilization technique for application in enzyme based biofuel cells

Electrospinning can be employed as a simple solution for enzyme immobilization for biofuel cell systems. Electrospinning of nanofibers provides a huge advantage of high surface area to volume ratio, thus minimizing the size and the cost of the substrate utilized without compromising the output. A glucose oxidase and peroxidase enzyme based fuel cell system was fabricated wherein the enzyme was immobilized using electrospinning technique on graphite felt. The cell assembly gave output of 613 mV at 25°C and pH 7. Studies performed at various physiological conditions established the role of enzyme in generation of electrons for fuel cell functioning thus overruling the possibility of voltage generation simply due to polarisation of electrodes. The electrodes used for 18 hours could be reused in a new fuel cell system indicates the reusability of the electrodes in fuel cells. The results are promising for miniaturising the whole fuel cell assembly without compromising the voltage output which can find wide biosensor and biomedical applications. © 2011 IEEE.