Sains Malaysiana 43(3)(2014): 459–465

A Hybrid Enzymatic Zinc-Air Fuel Cell

(Sel Bahan Api Hibrid Berenzim Zink-Udara)

 

 

ABDUL AZIZ AHMAD, RAIHAN OTHMAN*, FARIDAH YUSOF & MOHD FIRDAUS

ABD WAHAB

Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia

P.O. Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 30 Oktober 2012/Diterima: 13 Jun 2013

 

ABSTRACT

A hybrid biofuel cell, a zinc-air cell employing laccase as the oxygen reduction catalyst is investigated. A simple cell design is employed; a membraneless single chamber and a freely suspended laccase in the buffer electrolyte. The cell is characterised based on its open-circuit voltage, power density profile and galvanostatic discharge at 0.5 mA. The activity of laccase as an oxidoreductase is substantiated from the cell discharge profiles. The use of air electrode in the cell design enhanced the energy output by 14%. The zinc-air biofuel cell registered an open-circuit voltage of 1.2 V and is capable to deliver a maximum power density of 1.1 mWcm-2 at 0.4 V. Despite its simple design features, the power output is comparable to that of biocatalytic cell utilising a much more complex system design.

 

Keywords: Biocatalyst; bioelectrochemical cell; enzymatic zinc-air cell; hybrid biofuel cell; laccase; metal biofuel cell

 

ABSTRAK

Sel bio-bahan api hibrid, sel zink-udara menggunakan lakase sebagai pemangkin bagi penguraian oksigen dikaji. Reka bentuk sel yang mudah diguna pakai: Ruangan tunggal tanpa membran dan lakase yang diampaikan secara bebas di dalam elektrolit pemampan. Pencirian sel adalah berdasarkan voltan litar terbuka, profil ketumpatan kuasa dan discas pada arus malar 0.5 mA. Aktiviti lakase sebagai enzim penguraian oksigen dibuktikan daripada profil discas sel. Penggunaan elektrod udara di dalam reka bentuk sel berhasil menambahkan keluaran tenaga sebanyak 14%. Sel bio-bahan api zink-udara memberikan voltan litar terbuka 1.2 V dan berupaya menghasilkan ketumpatan kuasa maksimum 1.1 mWcm-2 pada 0.4 V. Di sebalik ciri reka bentuk sel yang mudah, keluaran kuasa yang dihasilkan adalah sebanding dengan sel bio-pemangkin yang menggunapakai reka bentuk sistem yang jauh lebih rumit.

 

Kata kunci: Bio-pemangkin; lakase; sel bio-bahan api hibrid; sel bio-bahan api logam; sel bioelektrokimia; sel zink-udara berenzim

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: raihan@iium.edu.my