Département de chimie moléculaire

We describe the first implanted glucose biofuel cell (GBFC) that is capable of generating sufficient power from a mammal's body fluids to act as the sole power source for electronic devices. This GBFC is based on carbon nanotube/enzyme electrodes, which utilize glucose oxidase for glucose oxidn. and laccase for dioxygen redn. The GBFC, implanted in the abdominal cavity of a rat, produces an av. open-circuit voltage of 0.57 V. This implanted GBFC delivered a power output of 38.7 $μ$W, which corresponded to a power d. of 193.5 $μ$W cm-2 and a volumetric power of 161 $μ$W mL-1. We demonstrate that one single implanted enzymic GBFC can power a light-emitting diode (LED) or a digital thermometer. In addn., no signs of rejection or inflammation were obsd. after 110 days implantation in the rat. [on SciFinder(R)]