Enhancement of ethanol–oxygen biofuel cell output using a CNT based nano-composite as bioanode

The present research, describes preparation and application of a novel bioanode for ethanol–oxygen biofuel cells. We applied an enzyme based nanocomposite consisting of polymethylene green as electron transfer mediator, carboxylated-multiwall carbon nanotubes as electron transfer accelerator, alcohol dehydrogenase as biocatalyst and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride as supporting agent. In the presence of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as cofactor, and ethanol as fuel, the feasibility of the bioanode for increasing the power was evaluated under the ambient conditions. In the optimum conditions the biofuel cell produced the power density of 1.713mWcm−2 and open circuit voltage of 0.281V. •By modification of bioanode via nanocomposite, the parameters such as power density and OCV enhanced to 1.713mWcm−2 and 0.281, respectively.•The large surface area and higher electronic conductivity of CNTs improves both the reactive species loading and electron transfer rate.•Operating at ambient conditions, applying ethanol as low cost fuel and simple method for enzyme-immobilization made the biofuel cell user friendly.