Michael Cooney1, Bor Yann Liaw1, Carolin Lau1, and Shelley D. Minteer2. (1) Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, SOEST, University of Hawaii, 1680 East West Road, POST 109, Honolulu, HI 96822, (2) Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103
Porous organic polymer matrices possess promise as a biofuel cell enabling strategy, primarily because of their ability to provide multi-dimensional and multi-directional pore structures that can improve performance in terms of power density and enzyme lifetime - two major impediments to any viable biofuel cell application. In the previous talk the capacity to hydrophobically pretreat chitosan polymer to possess hydrophobic mesopores that both immobilize and stabilize enzymes has been discussed. In this talk, the fabrication of multidimensional and multidirectional macroporous chitosan/enzyme electrodes from the hydrophobically pretreated chitosan is presented. The purpose of the macropores is to provide channels for mass transport of liquid phase fuels, thereby enabling the fabrication of 3D electrodes rather than thin films. Data on the electrochemical performance of these electrodes will be presented along with commentary on their potential to improve power density.