2A-4
Power generation characteristics of a solid-state bio-DEFC using ADH and chitin as catalytic electrodes, S. Sakane (Setsunan Univ.) et al.

In recent years, direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), which use ethanol as fuel, have attracted attention as a clean energy source. However, a major challenge to their practical application is the reduction in power density caused by the detachment of the enzyme catalyst from the electrodes. In this study, we fabricated a solid-state bio-DEFC using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the catalyst electrodes and investigated the optimal conditions for enzyme at both electrodes in terms of power generation characteristics. The solid bio-DEFC, which utilized solid ethanol as fuel, chitin as the electrolyte, and the enzymes ADH and laccase as electrode catalysts, exhibited characteristics typical of fuel cells. Furthermore, in the catalyst electrodes of the solid bio-DEFC, CNTs demonstrated a higher power density than conventional carbon sheets.