Abstract
Executive Summary
The kinds of biological fuel cells (BFCs), also known as biofuel cells,
which we are covering in the report are the following two types:
- (1) Enzymatic biofuel cells, that use enzymes derived from living
organisms to harness energy.
- (2) Microbial-based biofuel cells, that converts chemical energy to
electrical energy by the catalytic reaction of microorganisms.
Both biological fuel cells are electrochemical cell devices that use organic
material as the energy source and put out a small amount of electrical power.
In this report, rather than focusing on introducing biofuel cell technology,
we are concentrating on reporting who is doing what research activities, what
applications are they aiming for and who are the strategic partners, etc.
Of course, biological fuel cell researchers face many challenges, and the
journey to commercialization is long, and whether or not pursuing this
technology is worth the cost is unclear; however, as the research progresses,
there will be more clarity. Since organic material exists everywhere,
technical breakthrough may be possible with ingenious ideas. If innovation
becomes reality, with cutting edge technologies, biological fuel cells may
emerge at the forefront of fuel cell technological development.
Since BFCs are electrochemical cells, applications such as the biological fuel
cells for nanotechnology, biosensors, and medical sensors and devices could be
also expected. Also, using biological fuel cells for portable electronics
devices, by improving BFC' s currently small power output capability, is under
consideration as well.
For large-scale applications, using BFCs at a wastewater treatment plant may
be possible. In such an application the bacteria would consume waste material
from the water and produce supplementary power for the plant. In the future,
BFC applications may extend from the microscopic world to large-scale
applications. Either way, we can' t take our eyes off these potentially great
new R&D efforts.
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