Enzyme modified Vertically aligned Carbon nanotubes for enzymatic self-charging supercapacitors – SuperBioCap

The project is divided into 4 work packages. WP1 deals with the synthesis and customisation of VACNTs at NAWA Technologies which are then (bio)functionalized at DCM to immobilize and wire enzymes to form bioanode and biocathodes (WP2). These electrodes will be characterized and assembled to complete the biofuel cell (WP3). The whole setup will then be optimized and connected to a specially designed demonstrator device from BeFC (WP4).

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The goal of this project is to produce a demonstrator capable to measure, for example, humidity and/or temperature and to transmit these data by GPS or other systems which require power peaks of 10 to 100 mW.

The project just started

Enzymatic glucose biofuel cells are promising eco-friendly alternatives to replace polluting button batteries in disposable electronics such as point-of-care devices. The performances of recent biofuel cells meet the requirements of energy consumption of such devices in the microwatt range throughout their operational lifetime including low power consuming wireless transmission systems. However, for some purposes, more peak power is needed for long range transmissions which is still hard to support for the bio-power generators. This fundamental research project targets this issue by focusing the development of an enzymatic fuel cell – supercapacitor hybrid system for high peak power consumption. It will be realized based on the respective expertise of two industrial partners and one academic partner.

• The BioSEN team of DCM at the University of Grenoble Alpes already demonstrated the proof of concept for such a hybrid system by charging capacitive electrodes via enzymatic electrocatalysis. This hybrid provided peak discharges of 2 mW / cm² every 10 seconds for 5 days (40,000 in total).

• NAWA Technologies is one of the world leaders in the manufacture of supercapacitors based on carbon nanotube forests (vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, VACNTs). The company will provide VACNTs on different conductive substrates with forests of different tube lengths, spacing and diameter to determine the optimal configuration for biofunctionalization and electrocatalysis.

• BeFC is a young start-up spin-off from DCM research which develops and markets paper-based enzymatic biofuel cells. Its role in this project will be the development of electronic chips with sensors and wireless transmission systems calibrated to the performance of the biopile-supercapacitor hybrid. The goal of this project is to produce a demonstrator capable to measure, for example, humidity and/or temperature and to transmit these data by GPS or other systems which require power peaks of 10 to 100 mW.

• The project is divided into 4 work packages. WP1 deals with the synthesis and customisation of VACNTs at NAWA Technologies which are then (bio)functionalized at DCM to immobilize and wire enzymes to form bioanode and biocathodes (WP2). These electrodes will be characterized and assembled to complete the biofuel cell (WP3). The whole setup will then be optimized and connected to a specially designed demonstrator device from BeFC (WP4).