Advanced Self-Powered Biofuel Cells with Capacitor and Nanogenerator for Biomarker Sensing

Implementation of π-π interaction in AuNPs@GDY to boost the bioelectrocatalysis in enzymatic biofuel cells

The main challenges (sluggish electron transfer, low energy density) hinder the future application of enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs), which urgent to take effective measures to solve these issues. In this work, a composite of Au nanoparticles decorated graphdiyne (AuNPs@GDY) is fabricated and employed as the carrier of enzyme (G6PDH), and a mechanism based on π-π interaction of electron transfer is proposed to understand bioelectrocatalysis processes. The results show that the AuNPs@GDY composite exhibits the highest current density among the three materials (GDY, AuNPs, and AuNPs@GDY), which is 3.4 times higher than that of GDY and 2.5 times higher than that of AuNPs. Furthermore, the results reveal that the AuNPs could increase the loading of enzymes and provide more active site for reaction, while GDY provides highly π-conjugated structure and unique sp/sp2-hybridized linkages interface. This work provides new insights to explore a theoretical basis for the development of more efficient bioelectrocatalytic systems.

A Review of Recent Advances in Human-Motion Energy Harvesting Nanogenerators, Self-Powering Smart Sensors and Self-Charging Electronics

In recent years, portable and wearable personal electronic devices have rapidly developed with increasing mass production and rising energy consumption, creating an energy crisis. Using batteries and supercapacitors with limited lifespans and environmental hazards drives the need to find new, environmentally friendly, and renewable sources. One idea is to harness the energy of human motion and convert it into electrical energy using energy harvesting devices-piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs), triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and hybrids. They are characterized by a wide variety of features, such as lightness, flexibility, low cost, richness of materials, and many more. These devices offer the opportunity to use new technologies such as IoT, AI or HMI and create smart self-powered sensors, actuators, and self-powered implantable/wearable devices. This review focuses on recent examples of PENGs, TENGs and hybrid devices for wearable and implantable self-powered systems. The basic mechanisms of operation, micro/nano-scale material selection and manufacturing processes of selected examples are discussed. Current challenges and the outlook for the future of the nanogenerators are also discussed.

Research Progress in Enzyme Biofuel Cells Modified Using Nanomaterials and Their Implementation as Self-Powered Sensors

Enzyme biofuel cells (EBFCs) can convert chemical or biochemical energy in fuel into electrical energy, and therefore have received widespread attention. EBFCs have advantages that traditional fuel cells cannot match, such as a wide range of fuel sources, environmental friendliness, and mild reaction conditions. At present, research on EBFCs mainly focuses on two aspects: one is the use of nanomaterials with excellent properties to construct high-performance EBFCs, and the other is self-powered sensors based on EBFCs. This article reviews the applied nanomaterials based on the working principle of EBFCs, analyzes the design ideas of self-powered sensors based on enzyme biofuel cells, and looks forward to their future research directions and application prospects. This article also points out the key properties of nanomaterials in EBFCs, such as electronic conductivity, biocompatibility, and catalytic activity. And the research on EBFCs is classified according to different research goals, such as improving battery efficiency, expanding the fuel range, and achieving self-powered sensors.