Masato Suzuki

Insect biofuel cells using trehalose included in insect hemolymph leading to an insect-mountable biofuel cell

In this paper, an insect biofuel cell (BFC) using trehalose included in insect hemolymph was developed. The insect BFC is based on trehalase and glucose oxidase (GOD) reaction systems which oxidize β-glucose obtained by hydrolyzing trehalose. First, we confirmed by LC-MS that a sufficient amount of trehalose was present in the cockroach hemolymph (CHL). The maximum power density obtained using the insect BFC was 6.07xa0μW/cm2. The power output was kept more than 10xa0% for 2.5xa0h by protecting the electrodes with a dialysis membrane. Furthermore, the maximum power density was increased to 10.5xa0μW/cm2 by using an air diffusion cathode. Finally, we succeeded in driving a melody integrated circuit (IC) and a piezo speaker by connecting five insect BFCs in series. The results indicate that the insect BFC is a promising insect-mountable battery to power environmental monitoring micro-tools.

Biofuel cell backpacked insect and its application to wireless sensing

This study investigated an enzymatic biofuel cell (BFC) which can be backpacked by cockroaches. The BFC generates electric power from trehalose in insect hemolymph by the trehalase and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) reaction systems which dehydrogenate β-glucose obtained by hydrolyzing trehalose. First, an insect-mountable BFC (imBFC) was designed and fabricated with a 3D printer. The electrochemical reaction of anode-modified poly-L-lysine, vitamin K3, diaphorase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, GDH and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) in the imBFC was evaluated and an oxidation current of 1.18 mAcm(-2) (at +0.6 V vs. Ag|AgCl) was observed. Then, the performance of the imBFC was evaluated and a maximum power output of 333 μW (285 μW cm(-)(2)) (at 0.5 V) was obtained. Furthermore, driving of both an LED device and a wireless temperature and humidity sensor device were powered by the imBFC. These results indicate that the imBFC has sufficient potential as a battery for novel ubiquitous robots such as insect cyborgs.

Insect-mountable biofuel cell with self-circulation system

This paper reports the potentiality of a semi-permanent integrated power source mounted on an insect and using trehalose, the main sugar of insect hemolymph. A self-circulation system of cockroach hemolymph powered by the dorsal vessel of a cockroach was developed for self-refueling of an insect-mountable biofuel cell (BFC) and connected to a cockroach with a tube and a check-valve. The flow rate of about 457 nL/s was obtained. Furthermore, the electrochemical reaction of the anode of the insect BFC was confirmed to take place when the chamber was mounted onto the cockroach. Finally, the insect-mountable system consisting of a flow channel, a dialysis membrane, a chamber and insect BFC was fabricated.

Biofuel cells with trehalose leading to an insect-implanted power source

This paper reports the first demonstration of a biofuel cell (BFC) using trehalose found in insect hemolymph. The analysis results by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) showed that trehalose concentration included in cockroach hemolymph (CHL) was high enough to utilize as a source of power generation. The maximum power density of 6.07 µW/cm2 was obtained from CHL with added trehalase (Tre) and mutarotase (Mut). To prevent the open-circuit voltage decrease by adsorption of proteins in the CHL, the electrodes were protected by a dialysis membrane. As a result, the open-circuit voltage was constantly kept around 300 mV for more than 30 min. Furthermore, the maximum power density was increased to 10.5 µW/cm2 by using an air diffusion biocathode.

Trehalose biofuel cells using insect hemolymph for insect robots

This paper repots a demonstration of an IC driving by a trehalose biofuel cell (BFC) mounted on insects. First, we evaluated a trehalose oxidized anode. Then, we fabricated an insect-mountable BFC (imBFC) and the maximum power density of 42.9 μW/cm2 was obtained from the imBFC. Finally, we demonstrated to flash a LED by the imBFC. These results showed the possibility for developing a power source integrated with insects for insect cyborgs.