Carbon Nanomaterials for Biofuel Cells

Abstract

With the increase in energy demands, an incentive is given for scientific research towards providing sustained supply of energy to mankind. Among several alternative fuels, biofuel cells are an emerging field that is given a major impetus. Using a biological and chemical process to produce clean and efficient electrical energy can reduce the usage of to-be extinct fossil fuels. To facilitate these processes, enzymes and microbes play a very important role in transfer of electrons around the electrolyte and across electrodes. Several plant and animal-based products can be used and they are discussed. Among different materials used to synthesize biofuel cells, this chapter primarily discusses carbon-based nanomaterials which are attractive due to many significant properties it exhibits. Several such materials exist like graphite, carbon nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanohorns, nanorods that differ in morphology and presents remarkable opportunities to design and fabricate different varieties of biofuel cells. The composition and power densities of various biofuel cells are presented along with its several applications like in vivo implantation, energy extraction from body fluids and fruits. Smart textiles, self-powered biosensing applications of these biofuel cells suggest that research in this direction is an endless frontier. © 2021 Scrivener Publishing LLC.