Neus Sabaté

Membraneless glucose/O2 microfluidic enzymatic biofuel cell using pyrolyzed photoresist film electrodes

Biofuel cells typically yield lower power and are more difficult to fabricate than conventional fuel cells using inorganic catalysts. This work presents a glucose/O2 microfluidic biofuel cell (MBFC) featuring pyrolyzed photoresist film (PPF) electrodes made on silicon wafers using a rapid thermal process, and subsequently encapsulated by rapid prototyping techniques into a double-Y-shaped microchannel made entirely of plastic. A ferrocenium-based polyethyleneimine polymer linked to glucose oxidase (GOx/Fc-C6-LPEI) was used in the anode, while the cathode contained a mixture of laccase, anthracene-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and tetrabutylammonium bromide-modified Nafion (MWCNTs/laccase/TBAB-Nafion). The cell performance was studied under different flow-rates, obtaining a maximum open circuit voltage of 0.54 ± 0.04 V and a maximum current density of 290 ± 28 μA cm(-2) at room temperature under a flow rate of 70 μL min(-1) representing a maximum power density of 64 ± 5 μW cm(-2). Although there is room for improvement, this is the best performance reported to date for a bioelectrode-based microfluidic enzymatic biofuel cell, and its materials and fabrication are amenable to mass production.

Localized Stress Measurements - A New Approach Covering Needs for Advanced Micro and Nanoscale System Development

The paper presents a recently developed method of measuring frozen elastic stresses in micro components and devices. The approach bases on stress release at the component surface by focused ion beam (FIB) milling. Stresses are deduced from the experimentally determined deformation field around the FIB milling pattern, applying reasonable stress hypotheses and appropriate modeling of the stress release field. Because of the local nature of ion milling and the limited material volume affected by deformation, the method suites to very local stress measurement. Commonly, spatial resolution is achieved in a range from submicron to some tens of microns. Residual stresses in membrane type MEMS structures have been measured and results are reported. A broader group of potential applications is expected for non-membrane structures in micro-/nanosystems or their packaging. Possible approaches for those cases are discussed, considering comparison of measured deformation fields with either analytical solutions of the mechanical problem or with finite element simulations.

Paper-based microfluidic biofuel cell operating under glucose concentrations within physiological range

This work addresses the development of a compact paper-based enzymatic microfluidic glucose/O2 fuel cell that can operate using a very limited sample volume (≈35µl) and explores the energy generated by glucose at concentrations typically found in blood samples at physiological conditions (pH 7.4). Carbon paper electrodes combined with a paper sample absorption substrate all contained within a plastic microfluidic casing are used to construct the paper-based fuel cell. The anode catalysts consist of glucose dehydrogenase and [Os(4,4-dimethoxy-2,2-bipyridine)2(poly-vinylimidazole)10Cl]+ as mediator, while the cathode catalysts were bilirubin oxidase and [Os(2,2-bipyridine)2(poly-vinylimidazole)10Cl]+ as mediator. The fuel cell delivered a linear power output response to glucose over the range of 2.5-30mM, with power densities ranging from 20 to 90µWcm-2. The quantification of the available electrical power as well as the energy density extracted from small synthetic samples allows planning potential uses of this energy to power different sensors and analysis devices in a wide variety of in-vitro applications.

‘Plug-and-Power’ Point-of-Care diagnostics: A novel approach for self-powered electronic reader-based portable analytical devices

This paper presents an innovative approach in the portable Point-of-Care diagnostics field, the Plug-and-Power concept. In this new disposable sensor and plug-and-play reader paradigm, the energy required to perform a measurement is always available within the disposable test component. The reader unit contains all the required electronic modules to run the test, process data and display the result, but does not include any battery or power source. Instead, the disposable part acts as both the sensor and the power source. Additionally, this approach provides environmental benefits related to battery usage and disposal, as the paper-based power source has non-toxic redox chemistry that makes it eco-friendly and safe to follow the same waste stream as disposable test strips. The feasibility of this Plug-and-Power approach is demonstrated in this work with the development of a self-powered portable glucometer consisting of two parts: a test strip including a paper-based power source and a paper-based biofuel cell as a glucose sensor; and an application-specific battery-less electronic reader designed to extract the energy from the test strip, process the signal provided and show the glucose concentration on a display. The device was tested with human serum samples with glucose concentrations between 5 and 30u202fmM, providing quantitative results in good agreement with commercial measuring instruments. The advantages of the present approach can be extended to any kind of biosensors measuring different analytes and biological matrices, and in this way, strengthen the goals of Point-of-Care diagnostics towards laboratory decentralization, personalized medicine and improving patient compliance.

Towards a monolithic micro direct methanol fuel cell

This work presents the development of micro fuel cell devices, from a hybrid solution towards the monolithic integration, in order to be considered as a suitable integrated power device in the MEMS field.