Development of Carbon-Based Non-Platinum Oxygen Reduction Catalysts for Bioelectrochemical Devices

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K18912
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 27:Chemical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: TSUJIMURA Seiya 筑波大学, 数理物質系, 准教授 (30362429)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 難波江 裕太 東京工業大学, 物質理工学院, 准教授 (40514881) ; 四反田 功 東京理科大学, 創域理工学部先端化学科, 准教授 (70434024)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 酸素還元触媒 / 燃料電池 / 酵素 / 微生物 / バイオ燃料電池 / 水処理 / 血糖計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study addresses the challenge of power supply in bioelectrochemical devices by developing self-powered devices that do not require external energy sources. To promote the oxygen reduction reaction at higher potential than the anode, iron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts were used, and polytetrafluoroethylene was adopted as the optimal binder at neutral pH. In microbial fuel cells, a stable and highly active air-diffusion cathode was developed by supporting the catalyst on a water-repellent carbon cloth. In enzymatic biofuel cells, a self-powered blood glucose monitoring chip sensor was realized. These findings demonstrate that designing an appropriate catalyst environment enables high activity even in physiological conditions, allowing for a wide range of applications.

Free Research Field

電気化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

中性ｐHでの酸素還元反応の性能向上は、外部電源不要の自立駆動型バイオ電気化学デバイスの開発に直結し、環境に優しく、持続可能なエネルギー技術の確立に貢献する。微生物燃料電池や酵素バイオ燃料電池の実用化は、遠隔地や資源の乏しい地域での電力供給やヘルスケアに革命をもたらす。特に、自己駆動型血糖測定チップは、自己健康管理を支援し、医療コストの削減と生活の質の向上に繋がる。これらの技術革新は、エネルギー、環境、医療分野での持続可能な発展に大きく寄与する。