Applications of enzymatic biofuel cells in bioelectronic devices – A review

Abstract In this review paper, the authors have presented a brief conceptual summary of the applications of biofuel cell in general and enzymatic one in special with a short historical background, rather than their design and operation. Greater emphasis has been given to the recent progress in the development of biofuel cells and their applications for powering bioelectronic devices. Importance of electronic management of the energy derived from biological sources and interfacing enzyme-based biofuel cells with power consuming microelectronic devices have also been discussed briefly. The applications of the enzyme in the advancement of anode and cathode of biofuel cells based on the classification of single-enzyme and multi-enzyme catalysis system have also been briefly reviewed. In addition, the role of nanotechnology accompanied with redox mediators in enhancing the power output of enzymatic biofuel cells has been discussed with the help of some notable research efforts made recently with a particular emphasis on some of the latest and most imperative breakthroughs in EBFCs design based on buckypapers and carbon nanodots. The progress in implantable and self-powered bioelectrochemical devices with special heed to latest advances have been summarized in the light of several briefly described research contributions made in recent years. Moreover, the long-term stability and factors influencing the catalytic activity of enzymes in EBFCs have been reviewed in the context of the implantable and wearable application of these power sources. Finally, its prospects along with the prevailing scientific and technical challenges that will need to be resolved in the future for realizing their practical applications are discussed briefly.