Biofuel cells and their development

Biofuel cells and their development

20 October 2005; received in revised form 26 January 2006; accepted 26 January 2006 | R.A. Bullen, T.C. Arnot, J.B. Lakeman, F.C. Walsh
This review article, authored by R.A. Bullen, T.C. Arnot, J.B. Lakeman, and F.C. Walsh, focuses on the development and performance of microbial and enzymatic biofuel cells since 1994. Biofuel cells are defined as those that rely on enzymatic catalysis for at least part of their activity, and they can be further categorized based on the nature of the electrode reactions and biochemical reactions. The article critically evaluates the performance of these cells and discusses various potential applications, including bioremediation, power generation for remote areas, and portable power sources for consumer electronics. The review highlights that while significant progress has been made in the chemical development of enzyme electrodes, engineering advancements in biofuel cells have lagged. The authors emphasize the importance of understanding the limits of performance and suggest future research directions to overcome these challenges. Key performance characteristics, such as power output, cell voltage, and specific power, are discussed, along with the definitions and classifications of different types of biofuel cells. The article also delves into the use of whole organisms as catalysts in biofuel cells, including the advantages and challenges of using microorganisms and enzymes. It reviews several experimental setups and their performance, such as the use of bacteria to generate hydrogen gas and the application of microbial fuel cells in gastrobots, which are mobile robotic platforms that can scavenge their fuel from the environment. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of biofuel cell technology, identifying areas for future research and potential applications.This review article, authored by R.A. Bullen, T.C. Arnot, J.B. Lakeman, and F.C. Walsh, focuses on the development and performance of microbial and enzymatic biofuel cells since 1994. Biofuel cells are defined as those that rely on enzymatic catalysis for at least part of their activity, and they can be further categorized based on the nature of the electrode reactions and biochemical reactions. The article critically evaluates the performance of these cells and discusses various potential applications, including bioremediation, power generation for remote areas, and portable power sources for consumer electronics. The review highlights that while significant progress has been made in the chemical development of enzyme electrodes, engineering advancements in biofuel cells have lagged. The authors emphasize the importance of understanding the limits of performance and suggest future research directions to overcome these challenges. Key performance characteristics, such as power output, cell voltage, and specific power, are discussed, along with the definitions and classifications of different types of biofuel cells. The article also delves into the use of whole organisms as catalysts in biofuel cells, including the advantages and challenges of using microorganisms and enzymes. It reviews several experimental setups and their performance, such as the use of bacteria to generate hydrogen gas and the application of microbial fuel cells in gastrobots, which are mobile robotic platforms that can scavenge their fuel from the environment. Overall, the review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of biofuel cell technology, identifying areas for future research and potential applications.
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