Single-compartment abiotic direct glucose fuel cell using Pd nanoparticles supported on phospholipid nanotubes

Abstract

Lipid nanotubes (LNTs) synthesized by polymerization of 1,2-bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phospho-choline are used as a catalyst support. The LNTs are decorated with Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) by a two-step reduction of PdCl42- to provide uniform coverage. The PdNP-decorated LNTs exhibit a strong catalytic activity towards non-enzymatic oxidation of glucose in 0.5 M KOH. A direct glucose fuel cell is built using the PdNPdecorated LNT anode and activated carbon cathode. The fuel cell produces an open circuit potential of 1.2 V and the highest power density of 1.9 mW cm(-2) with a glucose concentration of 1.0 M and KOH concentration of 2.0 M. It is also demonstrated that the fuel cell can be built into a multiple-stack to attain the required power output.