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Greifswald (pte040/25.06.2003/16:28) - Researchers at Ernst Moritz Arndt University in Greifswald http://www.uni-greifswald.de have achieved a breakthrough on the path to the creating a viable bio-fuel cell.
While "normal" fuel cells use conventional energy materials such as methanol, bio-fuel cells use the metabolic activity of micro-organisms as a source of energy, as reported by the German Chemists' Association http://www.gdch.de . The concept of biological energy is not new, but scientists in Greifswald have taken the process a step further by generating not only micro but milli-amperes.
"Up to now the practical application of the theory has failed because the amount of energy produced was much too small," said Uwe Schroeder of the Greifswald University Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry. Schroeder and his colleagues, Judith Nießen and Fritz Scholz were able to better connect the microbe with the electrical circuit in order to transfer electrons from the microbial metabolism to the electrodes.
"While the microbes happily metabolise in a tank of glucose, the fermentation brew is continually pumped through a separate anode chamber," explained Schroeder. The anode chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by a semi-porous membrane.
"The trick to this bio-fuel cell is the new coating on the anode: a platinum electrode or platinum-coated graphite electrode is covered with a layer of the conductive plastic polyanilin," said Schroeder. The plastic layer is both bio-compatible and electro-catalytic. It draws electrons from the bacteria's metabolic activity, transfers them to the anode and is therefore a key factor in the flow of electricity.
The new and improved bio-fuel cell produces up to 1.5 mA per square centimetre. Experts think this kind of fuel cell could be used for a variety of applications in the future, and that the breakthrough to mass production is close at hand. It is especially friendly to the environment because it does not require burning and transforms chemical energy directly into electricity.
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