Design and

Development of an
Enzymatic Fuel Cell
Using Enzyme
Embedded Electrodes
Research Experience for Teachers
Nevin Longenecker
John Adams High School
 The PURPOSES of this
investigation were to
 examine and evaluate variables associated with
increasing the efficiency of an enzymatic fuel cell

 design and construct a prototype enzymatic fuel cell

for classroom use based on the previous findings.

 describe in an educational science journal an

inexpensive fuel cell which could be easily
constructed and used in a classroom. The operation
of such a cell would have diverse applications in many
sciences and would integrate mathematical principles
of calculus, statistics, algebra and geometry.
 Advantages of Fuel Cells
vs.
Internal Combustion Engines

 Unlimited supply of fuel

 No reliance on foreign oil
 Little or no pollutants
 Much higher energy conversion %
 No moving parts
 No noise
Fuel Cell with PEM Membrane
Types of Catalysts

 1. Metals-Pt, Ru, Sn, Au

 2. Biocatalysts-enzymes within microbes
 2. Biocatalysts-enzymes in solution
 3. Biocatalysts-enzymes embedded on
electrodes
Sites of Catalysts
Mediator Shuttling Electrons
PEB Investigation Trends
1. Optimum power output developed in 2hrs
Whole Ecoli cells PEB enzyme solution
0.2 watts/m2 2.1 watts/m2

2. Prolonged power output at 24 hrs

Whole Ecoli cells PEB enzyme solution
0.14 watts/m2 2.05 watts/m2

3. Prolonged optimum power output of PEB

continued for 5 days.
Proposed Advantages of Enzyme Use

1. Elimination of metabolism of
substrate by bacteria

2. Immediate contact of enzyme with

substrate.

3. Elimination of possible hazardous

types of bacteria.
Procedures

Factors affecting enzymatic fuel cell efficiency

were measured and evaluated using several
differently designed biofuel cells.
 Types and spacing of electrodes
 Enzyme concentration in anode solution
 Use of catalysts on electrodes
 Use and combinations of electron mediators
 Individual and mixtures of enzymes
 Substrate concentrations
PEB Mixture

 Amylase
 Diastase
 Lipase
 Dehyrogenase
 Catalase
(Conc. 510,000 enzymes/ml)
 Electrode Spacing
0.7

0.6

0.5
Power output uW/cm2

0.4 0.8cm
12cm
Poly. (0.8cm)
Poly. (12cm)
0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Time-hrs
 Role of Electron Mediators
with PEB in 0.05M
Dextrose Solution
0.6

0.5
Power Output (uwatts/cm2)

0.4

0.3 No Carrier
NADH
Q10
NADH+Q10
0.2 Linear (No Carrier)

0.1

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

-0.1

Time (hrs)
Electrode Current Density
6

5
Current(mA/cm2)

0
Dry Dis Water NADH NADH+Q10

Carbon Membranes
 Role of NADH + Q10 with Cellulase
in 0.01% Cellulose Solution
0.3

0.25

0.2
u W a tts /c m 2

Cellulase
Cellulase(NADH+Q10)
0.15 Linear (Cellulase)
Linear (Cellulase(NADH+Q10))

0.1

0.05

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Time hrs
Design of the Prototype Cell

 Anode and cathode chambers (70ml) are

made of pvc fittings and clear poly.
 Plexiglass sandwich center section
secures the PEM membrane
 Nafion serves as the proton membrane
 Carbon rods and carbon cloth are used
as electrodes
 Can be interfaced with Vernier software
and a laptop.
Continuing Work

 Embedding enzymes on the electrodes

in a noncompartmentalized fuel cell
 Adsorption of enzymes on electrode
 Bonding of enzymes with carbon paste
 Cross wiring of enzymes to metal coated
electrode
Substrate-Electrode Interactions
Membraneless Enzymatic Cell
 Anode Electrode Embedded with
0.7
PEB Enzymes
0.6
Power Density (uwatt/cm2)

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Time (hrs)
Carbon Cloth Electrodes
Embedded with Cellulase
NADH and Q10
0.3

0.25

0.2
uWatts/cm2

Cellulase
Cellulase(NADH+Q10)
0.15
Linear (Cellulase)
Linear (Cellulase(NADH+Q10))

0.1

0.05

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Time hrs
Proposed Uses for
Implantable Enzymatic Fuel Cells

(To utilize arterial glucose and oxygen with

immobilized enzymes on electrodes in a
noncompartmentalized cell)

 Micropumps-insulin, pain meds, arthritis

 Current for-nerve stimulation, hearing aids

 Heart pacemaker (cells in series)

Implantable Arterial Fuel Cell
Additional Uses of
Enzymatic Fuel Cells

 In Space-regeneration of human waste

 Treatment of human waste in
developing countries
 Treatment of household wastes in place
of landfills
 Industry-detoxify chemical wastes
Conclusions
1. Enzymatic power density is approximately 0.1X
that of metal catalyst fuel cells.
2. NADH and Q10 increased the energy output by
approximately 5X each
3. Energy output was inversely proportional to
the distance between the electrodes.
4. Enzymatic fuel cells function well in the uwatt
range.
Acknowledgments

 University of Notre Dame- EMSI

 Dr. Alex Hahn-RET Program Director
 Dr. Jeremy Fein-EMSI Program Director
 Dr. Robert Nerenberg-advisor