Development of Microbial and Enzymatic Fuel Cells for Bio-Inspired Power Sources

摘要

This report is based on some of the revolutionary concepts described in the Road Map on 'Bioinspired Power Systems' within the AFRL/RW Campus Challenge II. Development of biofuel cell concepts integrated with fuel regeneration and energy storage capabilities are proposed to create a compact and self sustaining power system. The first part of this work identified a sediment based microbial fuel cell that could power small electronics and maintain electrical activity over long periods of time. AFRL/RW does not feel that this work adequately addresses the original scope nor does it provide a basis on which to continue work. The second part of this work focused on the evaluation of the oxidation and photolytic regeneration properties of fuels for enzymatic fuel cells. The top three fuels (glycerol, formaldehyde, and methanol) were electrochemically evaluated in working bioanodes. Despite the high viscosity of glycerol, the energy dense compound can be used in high concentrations making it a better fuel source than the organic alcohols for the enzymatic fuel cells.