Enzymatic Based Biocathode in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

In this communication results of a fuel cell operating with a conventional platinum anode and a peroxidase based biochatode are presented. The biocathode was prepared with peroxidase extracted from vegetal tissue of brazilian zucchini, Cucurbirta pepo, via four different methods. The biomaterial was used either immobilized or adsorbed on carbon cloth and on carbon powder. The tests were carried out at 25 oC in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, in which cathode and anode were fed with oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. The crude extract from brazilian zucchini (Cucurbirta pepo) was used as peroxidase source in the cathode of the biochemical fuel cell. In spite of the poor stability, evidence of the cathode activity towards oxygen reduction is presented and a maximum power density in the range of 80 to 120 μW cm-2 was observed.