This work presents a first approach towards the development of a cost-effective enzymatic paper-based glucose/O2 microfluidic fuel cell in which fluid transport is based on capillary action. A first fuel cell configuration consists of a Y-shaped paper device with the fuel and the oxidant flowing in parallel over carbon paper electrodes modified with bioelectrocatalytic enzymes. The anode consists of a ferrocenium-based polyethyleneimine polymer linked to glucose oxidase (GOx/Fc-C6-LPEI), while the cathode contains a mixture of laccase, anthracene-modified multiwall carbon nanotubes, and tetrabutylammonium bromide-modified Nafion (MWCNTs/laccase/TBAB-Nafion). Subsequently, the Y-shaped configuration is improved to use a single solution containing both, the anolyte and the catholyte. Thus, the electrolytes pHs of the fuel and the oxidant solutions are adapted to an intermediate pH of 5.5. Finally, the fuel cell is run with this single solution obtaining a maximum open circuit of 0.55 ± 0.04 V and a maximum current and power density of 225 ± 17 μA cm−2 and 24 ± 5 μW cm−2, respectively. Hence, a power source closer to a commercial application (similar to conventional lateral flow test strips) is developed and successfully operated. This system can be used to supply the energy required to power microelectronics demanding low power consumption.

F. Javier del Campo acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy through the DADDi2 project (TEC2013-48506-C3). Juan Pablo Esquivel would like to thank the support from Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (APPOCS-328144) within the 7th European Community Framework Programme. Shelley D. Minteer and Fabien Giroud would like to thank the National Science Foundation (CHE-1057597) for funding. Neus Sabaté acknowledges funding from the European H2020 Framework Programme (Grant Agreement 648518 - SUPERCELL - ERC 2014 CoG).

Peer reviewed