JP2013048096A - Fuel cell, usage of the same, cathode electrode for the same, electronic apparatus, electrode reaction utilization device, and electrode for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell, a usage of the same, a cathode electrode for the same, an electrode reaction utilization apparatus, and an electrode for the same, capable of achieving a reaction environment allowing sufficient exhibition of excellent electrode characteristics.SOLUTION: In a fuel cell 10 which holds an electrolytic solution 7 between a cathode electrode 1 and an anode electrode 5, the cathode electrode 1 is composed of a porous material, such as carbon, fixed with an enzyme and at least a portion of the cathode electrode 1 is made to contact a reaction substrate of a gas phase. To the cathode electrode 1, an electron transfer mediator is preferably fixed in addition to the enzyme. For the reaction substrate of a gas phase, air or oxygen is used, for example.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell, a fuel cell usage method, a fuel cell cathode electrode, an electronic device, an electrode reaction utilization device, and an electrode reaction utilization device electrode, and is used, for example, as a power source for various electronic devices such as mobile phones. It is suitable for application to a fuel cell.

Biological metabolism carried out in living organisms has a high substrate selectivity, is an extremely efficient reaction mechanism, and has a feature that the reaction proceeds in a relatively mild atmosphere at room temperature and neutrality. The biological metabolism mentioned here includes respiration and photosynthesis that convert various nutrients such as oxygen, sugars, fats and proteins into energy necessary for the growth of microorganisms and cells.
In such in vivo reactions, biocatalysts consisting of proteins, that is, enzymes, are greatly involved. The idea of utilizing the catalytic action of this enzyme has been practiced for a long time with the history of mankind.

In particular, various technical studies have been made on the concept and method of immobilizing an enzyme. By immobilizing the enzyme at a high density, it shows high catalytic performance in a small amount and can handle highly specific enzymes in the same way as solid catalysts used in general chemical reactions. It is known to be very useful as a method.
The application range of immobilizing an enzyme is various, such as brewing industry, fermentation industry, textile industry, leather industry, food industry, pharmaceutical industry, and in recent years, a biosensor incorporating its catalytic function in an electrode system, Applications in the field of electronics such as bioreactors and biofuel cells are also being studied.

Conventionally, regarding the technology that uses biometabolism for fuel cells, a report on microbial cells in which electric energy generated in microorganisms is taken out of the microorganisms via an electron mediator and current is obtained by passing these electrons to electrodes. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). This relates to a technique in which an enzyme is used to extract energy.
By the way, when applying technology that uses an enzyme to a fuel cell, it is possible to efficiently capture the enzyme reaction phenomenon occurring near the electrode as an electrical signal by immobilizing the enzyme on the electrode at a high density. Become.

In addition, when examining an electrode system, an electron acceptor compound that is an electron transfer medium (electron transfer mediator) is required because electron mediation is generally difficult between an enzyme, which is a protein, and an electrode. This electron acceptor compound is also preferably immobilized on the electrode in the same manner as the enzyme.
On the other hand, in order for the catalytic action of the enzyme to proceed, it is indispensable to be in an environment that allows movement of electrons and protons, and a functional electrode (on which an enzyme and an electron acceptor compound as described above are immobilized ( The same can be said for the enzyme-immobilized electrode.

When evaluating such an enzyme-immobilized electrode, there is a concern that the activity of the enzyme may be reduced in an organic solvent, and thus, conventionally, evaluation in water or a buffer solution (buffer solution) has been common. .
At this time, the substance serving as a reaction substrate for the enzyme-catalyzed reaction can be more uniformly and efficiently catalyzed by the enzyme when dissolved in water or a buffer solution.

However, when a substance serving as a reaction substrate is dissolved in water or a buffer solution, the solubility is limited because it is a physical property value specific to the substance, and this limits the electrode reaction.
In particular, oxygen is a substance having a very small dissolved oxygen concentration in the solution as compared with air, which places a significant limitation on the electrode reaction. Also, the oxygen diffusion in the solution is much larger than the oxygen diffusion in the air.
From the above, when oxygen is applied as a reaction substrate, if water or a buffer solution is used, the electrode reaction is limited by the solubility of oxygen in the water or buffer solution. It can be said that this is a major technical solution for practical application.

In addition, the better the catalytic action of the enzyme-immobilized electrode used, the more the rate of supply of the substance as the reaction substrate to the electrode becomes the rate of the whole reaction, so it is limited by the solubility of the substance in water or buffer. As a result, there has been a problem that excellent enzyme-immobilized electrode characteristics cannot be fully exhibited.
For this reason, in a system using dissolved oxygen in the solution as a reaction substrate, the oxygen supply amount is increased by increasing the oxygen partial pressure or stirring the solution, and the enzyme-immobilized electrode As a function (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-133297 A

N. Mano, H. H Kim, Y. Zhang and A. Heller, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124 (2002) 6480

As described above, conventionally, in an oxygen reduction electrode using an enzyme, the oxygen supply amount is increased by increasing the oxygen partial pressure or stirring the solution while adopting a structure in which the reaction is performed in the liquid. Thus, the electrode reaction efficiency was improved.
However, from the viewpoint of putting the fuel cell to practical use, operations such as increasing the oxygen partial pressure or increasing the oxygen supply amount by stirring the solution are unsuitable for design.
That is, it is difficult to obtain a large oxygen reduction current because there is a limit to the amount of oxygen supplied from the standpoint of performing the reaction under stationary conditions and from the viewpoint of limiting the diffusion rate of dissolved oxygen.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a fuel cell capable of realizing a reaction environment that can sufficiently exhibit excellent electrode characteristics, a method of using the fuel cell, a cathode electrode for a fuel cell suitable for use in the fuel cell, and It is to provide an electronic device equipped with this fuel cell.
More generally, the present invention provides a fuel cell and other electrode reaction utilization device and an electrode for an electrode reaction utilization device capable of realizing a reaction environment capable of sufficiently exhibiting excellent electrode characteristics. is there.

  As a result of diligent research to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present inventors have determined that the reaction substrate in the enzyme-catalyzed reaction is a porous material with an enzyme immobilized, more generally, electrical conductivity. It was devised to directly contact and supply as a gas to an electrode made of a gas permeable material, and in this method, an enzyme actually causes an enzyme-catalyzed reaction with a gas phase reaction substrate. Confirmed experimentally. As far as the present inventors know, there have been no reports of using gas phase reaction substrates in enzyme-catalyzed reactions, and immersion in water or a buffer solution was indispensable as described above. By using a gas phase reaction substrate, the above problems can be solved all at once.

The present invention has been devised based on the above knowledge.
That is, in order to solve the above problem, the first invention
In a fuel cell in which a proton conductor is sandwiched between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode,
The cathode electrode is configured such that an enzyme is immobilized on a material that is electrically conductive and permeable to gas, and at least a part of the cathode electrode is configured to contact a gas phase reaction substrate. It is characterized by.
The second invention is
A cathode for a fuel cell, characterized in that an enzyme is fixed to a material that has electrical conductivity and is permeable to gas.

The third invention is
In an electronic device equipped with a fuel cell that sandwiches a proton conductor between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode,
The fuel cell has a structure in which at least a part of the cathode electrode is in contact with a gas phase reaction substrate, in which the cathode electrode is electrically conductive and an enzyme is immobilized on a gas-permeable material. It is characterized by that.

  In the first to third inventions, the material having electrical conductivity and allowing the gas to permeate is an electrode substrate. This material has an electrical conductivity that is good enough to be used as an electrode. Basically, any material can be used as long as it has an internal structure that allows gas to pass therethrough, and in particular, a porous material having a high specific surface area made of carbon or the like Is advantageous and preferable for increasing the reaction area.

The cathode electrode is used in a state in which at least a part thereof is in contact with a gas phase reaction substrate. In use, it is preferable to place the cathode electrode in a wet state in order to perform the reduction reaction. Specifically, it is preferable to increase the enzyme activity by immersing the cathode electrode in a buffer solution so that the cathode electrode is contacted with the enzyme and moistened. Various reaction substrates can be used as the gas phase, but oxygen is typically used as the reaction substrate that is in the gas phase at normal temperature and pressure, and is generally supplied as air or oxygen gas. Since oxygen is inexhaustible in the atmosphere and has no adverse effect on the environment, the use of its reduction reaction is extremely effective. As the gas phase reaction substrate, for example, NO _x may be used in addition to oxygen. The gas phase reaction substrate is basically applicable as long as it is a vaporizable substance. The gas phase reaction substrate may be supplied in the form of bubbles by placing the cathode electrode in the liquid phase.

In addition to the enzyme, an electron transfer mediator is preferably fixed to the cathode electrode material. This electron transfer mediator is originally intended to transfer electrons transferred to the electron transfer mediator by an enzyme reaction to the cathode electrode. By fixing the electron transfer mediator to the cathode electrode material at a sufficiently high concentration, This electron transfer mediator can be used as an electron pool for temporarily accumulating electrons. In other words, conventional biofuel cells cannot take advantage of their extra capacity when discharged at a low output relative to the limit output of the battery or when connected to an infinite resistance, exceeding the limit output. It is also impossible to generate power, and there was a problem that the output was very sensitively affected when the oxygen concentration and fuel concentration were temporarily reduced, but these were caused by using an electron transfer mediator as an electron pool. It can be solved all at once. In this case, this electron transfer mediator is preferably fixed at a sufficiently high concentration on the surface of the cathode electrode. Specifically, for example, the average value per unit area of the cathode electrode surface is 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁶ mol / mm ^2. It is preferable to fix the above. The accumulation of electrons in this electron transfer mediator is achieved by making the best use of the remaining catalytic ability of the enzyme when an infinite resistance is connected as a load to the external circuit of the biofuel cell or when supplying low power. It becomes possible to store electrons temporarily in the electron transfer mediator spontaneously, that is, to charge them. In addition to biocatalyst's catalytic ability, when it is necessary to output more than the limit output of a biofuel cell, it is possible to output more than the limit output by using a charged electron transfer mediator. Become. You may make it fix the electron transfer mediator used as an electron pool also to an anode electrode.
The proton conductor sandwiched between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode is an electrolyte or the like.

  Electronic devices can be basically any type, including both portable and stationary devices. Specific examples include mobile phones, mobile devices, robots, and personal computers. , In-vehicle equipment, various home appliances.

The fourth invention is:
A proton conductor is sandwiched between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode, and the cathode electrode is an electrically conductive and gas permeable material in which an enzyme and an electron transfer mediator are fixed. A method of using a fuel cell in which an electron pool for accumulating electrons is formed by a transfer mediator, and power is generated by bringing at least a part of a cathode electrode into contact with a gas phase reaction substrate,
When the supply of the reaction substrate to the cathode electrode is stopped, the supply of the reaction substrate to the cathode electrode is decreased, or the output is increased, electrons are supplied from the electron pool to the cathode electrode. Is.
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, what has been described in relation to the first to third aspects of the present invention is valid as long as not otherwise contrary to the nature thereof.

The fifth invention is:
In the electrode reaction utilization apparatus having a pair of electrodes,
One of the pair of electrodes is one in which an enzyme is fixed to a material that is electrically conductive and permeable to gas so that at least a part of the electrode is in contact with a gas phase reaction substrate. It is comprised by these.

The sixth invention is:
An electrode for an electrode reaction utilization device, wherein an enzyme is fixed to a material that has electrical conductivity and is permeable to gas.
Specific examples of the electrode reaction utilization device include a biofuel cell, a biosensor, a bioreactor and the like that mimic biological metabolism. The pair of electrodes of the electrode reaction utilization device is, for example, a cathode electrode and an anode electrode in a biofuel cell, and a working electrode (working electrode) and a counter electrode in a bioreactor.
In the fifth and sixth inventions, what has been described in relation to the first to third inventions holds true for the matters other than those described above, as long as they are not contrary to their properties.
In the present invention configured as described above, at least a part of the cathode electrode in which an enzyme is immobilized on a gas-permeable material is in contact with a gas phase reaction substrate. As a result, the enzyme immobilized on the cathode electrode serves as a catalyst to reduce oxygen supplied as a gas phase reaction substrate, for example, air or oxygen gas. In this case, compared to the case where dissolved oxygen in the solution is used as a reaction substrate, there is no limitation on the supply amount of the reaction substrate, it is possible to perform an enzyme-catalyzed reaction with excellent efficiency, and a large reduction current can be obtained. Practical power generation efficiency can be realized. In addition, this fuel cell or electrode reaction utilization device is structurally simple.

  According to this invention, it is possible to realize a reaction environment in which the excellent electrode characteristics of the enzyme-immobilized electrode can be sufficiently exhibited. In addition to high-efficiency biofuel cells, various high-efficiency electrode reaction utilization devices such as biosensors and bioreactors can be realized. According to this electrode reaction utilization device, environmental remediation and decomposition of contaminants can be performed in the gas phase, and biosensors using this technology can expand substrate selectivity and enable new sensing. It becomes.

It is a schematic block diagram of the fuel cell by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the electrode structure in a comparative example. It is a basic diagram which shows the electrode structure in an Example. It is a basic diagram which shows the It measurement result of an Example sample and a comparative example sample. It is a schematic block diagram of the fuel cell by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the It measurement result when using a fuel cell. It is a basic diagram which shows the It measurement result when the density | concentration of an electron transfer mediator is changed. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structural example more suitable for practical use of the fuel cell by one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell 10 according to this embodiment includes a first component 11 having a cathode electrode (positive electrode) 1 and a second component 12 having an anode electrode (negative electrode) 5. The pair of electrodes has a configuration in which an electrolyte solution 7 as a proton conductor is sandwiched.
The cathode electrode 1 is composed of an enzyme-immobilized electrode made of a porous material such as carbon and having an enzyme immobilized on the surface on the electrolyte solution 7 side. As the enzyme, an enzyme having oxidase activity using oxygen as a reaction substrate, for example, laccase, bilirubin oxidase, ascorbate oxidase and the like can be used. In addition to the enzyme, it is desirable to immobilize the electron transfer mediator in addition to the enzyme. More desirably, the porous material has a sufficiently high concentration, for example, an average value of 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁶ mol / mm ² or more. To do. As a method for immobilizing these enzymes and electron transfer mediators, any conventionally known method may be used, and in particular, a conventional immobilization method that is easily affected by the pH or ionic strength of water or a buffer solution. Use is also possible.

In the first component 11, the cathode electrode 1 on which the enzyme is immobilized is laminated with a current collector 8 made of, for example, a titanium mesh, so that current collection can be easily performed.
The anode electrode 5 may be any electrode that can supply a conventionally known proton (H ⁺ ). For example, any of a hydrogen platinum electrode and a methanol / ruthenium / platinum electrode can be applied.
In the second component 12, the anode electrode 5 is disposed in the electrolyte solution 7. A reference electrode (not shown) is installed in the electrolyte solution 7 as necessary.

  The electrolyte solution 7 is generally a strongly acidic (such as sulfuric acid) or strongly basic (such as potassium hydroxide) solution. In a biofuel cell, an enzyme that is a catalyst immobilized on the cathode electrode 1 is used. Since it has catalytic activity even in the vicinity of pH 7, it is possible to use a buffer solution or water in the vicinity of pH 7, so that it has an advantage that it can be operated even under neutral conditions in a mild environment.

The first component 11 and the second component 12 are separated by an insulating and proton-permeable membrane, for example, a separator 9 made of cellophane (methylcellulose), so that the electrolyte solution 7 does not flow into the cathode electrode 1 side. It is like that.
In the fuel cell 10, the cathode electrode 1 is brought into contact with a gas phase reaction substrate. For this purpose, at least a part of the cathode electrode 1 is brought into contact with the reaction substrate by placing it in the gas phase. Since the cathode electrode 1 is made of a porous material, a gas phase reaction substrate in contact with the cathode electrode 1 can enter the cathode electrode 1 and can react with an enzyme immobilized on the porous material. It can be done.

In the fuel cell 10, the cathode electrode 1 is supplied with oxygen (O ₂ ) from the gas phase with which the cathode electrode 1 is in contact, and supplied with H ⁺ from the electrolyte solution 7, and is immobilized on the cathode electrode 1. The enzyme (enzyme) used as a catalyst causes the following reaction (1). On the other hand, when the anode electrode 5 is a methanol / ruthenium / platinum electrode, the following reaction (2) occurs. When the anode electrode 5 is a hydrogen platinum electrode, the following reaction (3) occurs. 5 exchanges electrons through an external circuit and current flows.
The oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode electrode 1 has been confirmed to proceed well in a wet state.
Cathode electrode: O ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ → 2H ₂ O (1)
Anode electrode (methanol, ruthenium, platinum electrode): CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O → CO ₂ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻ (2)
Anode electrode (hydrogen platinum electrode): H ₂ → 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ (3)

Specific samples of the fuel cell according to the present invention and an enzyme-immobilized electrode (positive electrode) as a cathode electrode constituting the fuel cell were prepared and evaluated.
In the following, the reactivity of each enzyme-immobilized electrode was evaluated when dissolved oxygen in the buffer was used as the reaction substrate and when oxygen in the gas phase was used as the reaction substrate.

For enzyme-immobilized electrodes that reduce the reaction substrate (oxygen), the catalytic reaction rate of the enzyme-immobilized electrode is compared with the dissolved oxygen diffusion rate in order to confirm whether oxygen in the gas phase is used as the reaction substrate. And fast enough.
Therefore, in the example shown below, bilirubin oxidase was used as the enzyme, and potassium hexacyanoferrate was applied as the electron transfer mediator. These were immobilized on the electrode surface using electrostatic interaction of poly-L-lysine.
The enzyme-immobilized electrode prepared in this way is known to have a very high oxygen reducing ability, and it has been confirmed that dissolved oxygen diffusion is in a rate-limiting state in the solution (Nakagawa, T., Tsujimura S., Kano, K., and Ikeda, T. Chem. Lett., 32 (1), 54-55 (2003)).

First, an enzyme-immobilized electrode was produced as follows.
As the porous material, a commercially available carbon felt (B0030 made by TORAY) was used, and this carbon felt was punched into a circle having a diameter of 6 mm.
Next, 20 μl of poly-L-lysine (1 wt%), 10 μl of hexacyanoferrate ion (10 mM), which is an electron transfer mediator, and 10 μl (100 mg / ml) of a solution of bilirubin oxidase (Myrothecium verrucaria) are added to the carbon felt. By soaking in order and drying, an enzyme-immobilized electrode was obtained.

[Comparative Example]
In this example, a measurement system having an electrode configuration as shown in FIG. 2 was assembled.
The enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 produced as described above is physically fixed to a commercially available glassy carbon electrode 102 (No. 002012 manufactured by BAS) using a fixing means 103 made of a nylon net to easily collect current. The working electrode 100 having a structure capable of performing the above was configured.

In FIG. 2, the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 appears to be separated from the glassy carbon electrode 102 so that the tip of the glassy carbon electrode 102 can be visually recognized. It is assumed that they are in contact with each other.
The electrode having such a configuration was immersed in a buffer solution 104 in an oxygen saturation state, and a counter electrode 105 made of a platinum wire and a reference electrode (Ag | AgCl) 106 were installed at predetermined positions.

〔Example〕
In this example, a measurement system having an electrode configuration as shown in FIG. 3 was assembled.
The enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 produced as described above is physically fixed to a commercially available glassy carbon electrode 102 (No. 002012 manufactured by BAS) using a fixing means 103 made of a nylon net to easily collect current. The working electrode 100 having a structure capable of performing the above was configured.

In FIG. 3, the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 appears to be separated from the glassy carbon electrode 102 so that the tip of the glassy carbon electrode 102 can be visually recognized. It is assumed that they are in contact with each other.
The electrode having such a configuration was disposed outside the buffer solution 104 and was in contact with the atmosphere. Further, the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 was connected to the buffer solution 104 by a lead 110 made of carbon felt to constitute an electrochemical measurement system.
Furthermore, a counter electrode 105 made of a platinum wire and a reference electrode (Ag | AgCl) 106 were installed at predetermined positions.

Electrochemical measurements were performed on the measurement systems configured as shown in FIGS.
I (current) -t (time) measurement was performed under a constant voltage of 0.1V. The measurement results are shown in FIG. In the comparative example sample having the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the performance of the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 is superior to the dissolved amount of oxygen in the buffer 104 from the start of measurement, as indicated by the broken line Y. Oxygen depletion began, the catalyst current due to oxygen reduction gradually decreased, and finally reached 17 μA / cm ² .
On the other hand, in the example sample, when the lead 110 made of carbon felt was immersed in the buffer solution 104, the current value due to the catalytic action was 3 μA / cm ² (state A in the solid line X in FIG. 4).

Next, when the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 itself was once moistened with the buffer 104 and the enzyme was slightly activated, a very high current density of 266 μA / cm ² was obtained (state B in the solid line X in FIG. 4). ).
This is because the oxygen concentration in the gas phase is very high compared to the dissolved oxygen concentration in the buffer solution 104, and the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 efficiently reduces oxygen in the gas phase.
From the above, it has been clarified that the reaction can be performed with excellent efficiency between the enzyme immobilized on the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 and oxygen in the gas phase.

〔Fuel cell〕
Next, using the oxygen reduction reaction of the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 produced as described above, it was applied as a cathode electrode of a fuel cell, and the cell performance was evaluated.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the fuel cell 200, an enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 as a cathode electrode (positive electrode) and an anode electrode (negative electrode) 115 made of methanol, ruthenium, and platinum electrodes face each other with an electrolyte solution 107 interposed therebetween. It has a configuration.
The enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 as the cathode electrode is obtained by performing enzyme immobilization on a carbon felt cut to a size of 10 mm × 10 mm by the same method as in the above-described example.

As shown in FIG. 5, the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 is placed on the electrode contact region 121 provided with the communication hole 120 in the battery lower portion 201, and a titanium mesh is placed thereon as the current collector 108 to collect the current. And a working electrode was formed. Further, a predetermined film having insulation properties and proton permeability, such as cellophane (methylcellulose), is placed on the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 as the separator 109, and separated from the battery upper portion 202.
In the upper part 202 of the battery, an anode electrode 115 made of methanol, ruthenium and platinum is disposed in the electrolyte solution 107, and a reference electrode 106 is disposed in contact with the electrolyte solution 107. The anode electrode 115 and the reference electrode 106 are assumed to have a sufficient amount of reaction surface area. Reference numeral 122 denotes a lid.
The separator 109 prevents the electrolyte solution 107 from oozing out from the battery upper portion 202. And the enzyme fixed electrode 101 as a cathode electrode exists in the gaseous phase.

In the fuel cell 200 configured as described above, the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 serving as the cathode electrode is supplied with O ₂ from the gas phase with which the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 is in contact, and is supplied with H ₂ from the electrolyte solution 107. Following the supply of ⁺ , the enzyme immobilized on the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 serves as a catalyst, and the following reaction (1) occurs. On the other hand, the following reaction (2) occurs in the anode electrode 115, and electrons are exchanged between the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 as the cathode electrode and the anode electrode 115 through an external circuit, and a current flows.
Cathode electrode: O ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ → 2H ₂ O (1)
Anode electrode: CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O → CO ₂ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻ (2)

In a state where air is introduced into the electrode contact region 121 in FIG. 5 and oxygen is supplied to the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 as the cathode electrode through the communication hole 120, I (current) at 0.1 V− t (time) measurement was performed. The measurement result is shown by curve a in FIG.
In this case, oxygen in the gas phase becomes a reaction substrate, and an oxygen reduction current is observed immediately after the electrolyte solution 107 is put into the battery upper portion 202. As shown at the left end of the curve a in FIG. A steady catalyst current of 5 mA / cm ² could be obtained.

On the other hand, an electrolyte solution is put in the electrode contact region 121 in FIG. 5, and the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 as a cathode electrode is completely immersed in this electrolyte solution. Measurements were made. The measurement result is shown by a curve b in FIG.
In this case, the dissolved oxygen in the electrolyte solution becomes a reaction substrate, and the diffusion of dissolved oxygen causes the catalyst current to decrease from the start of measurement as shown at the left end of the curve b in FIG. 6, and is steady at 50 μA / cm ² . It became.
From the above results, in the fuel cell using the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 as the cathode electrode, oxygen in the gas phase is efficiently reduced, and compared with the case where dissolved oxygen in the electrolyte solution is used as in the past, It was confirmed that a current density as high as 30 times was obtained.

Next, the concentration of the electron transfer mediator that is immobilized with the enzyme on the surface of the cathode electrode of the fuel cell is changed, the electron pool consisting of the electron transfer mediator is filled with electrons, and the current from when the supply of oxygen to the cathode electrode is stopped. The results of measuring the change over time of values will be described.
For this purpose, bilirubin oxidase is used as an enzyme and hexacyanoferrate ion (Fe (CN) ₆ ^{3− / 4−} ) is used as an electron transfer mediator, and these are used for electrostatic interaction of poly-L-lysine, which is a polycation. And fixed on a 5 mm × 5 mm carbon felt. Unipolar evaluation was performed using this electrode. FIG. 7 shows the result. In FIG. 7, the curve of (1) is a comparative example, and when a platinum catalyst is used for the cathode electrode, the curve of (2) shows an electron transfer mediator of 1.6 × 10 ⁻ in addition to the above-mentioned carbon felt in addition to the enzyme. ^{When 6} mol (average concentration of 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁷ mol / mm ² ) is fixed, the curve in (3) shows 1.6 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol of the electron transfer mediator in addition to the above-mentioned carbon felt in addition to the enzyme. When the concentration is fixed at an average of 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁶ mol / mm ² ), the curve in (4) shows 1.6 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol of the electron transfer mediator in addition to the above-mentioned carbon felt in addition to the enzyme (average at the concentration) 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol / mm ² ) is shown. As is clear from FIG. 7, when a platinum catalyst was used for the cathode electrode (curve (1)), the current value drastically decreased to 0 in about 20 seconds after the supply of oxygen was stopped, and the electron transfer mediator was changed to 1.6. Even when × 10 ⁻⁶ mol (concentration average 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁷ mol / mm ² ) is fixed (curve (2)), the current value drastically decreases in about tens of seconds after the supply of oxygen is stopped. After the lapse, it became about 5% of the initial current value. In contrast, when the electron transfer mediator was fixed at 1.6 × 10 ⁻⁵ mol (average 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁶ mol / mm ^{2 in} concentration) (curve (3)), The decrease in the current value is gradual and maintains a current value of about 20% of the initial current value even after 600 seconds, and the electron transfer mediator is 1.6 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol (0.64 × average concentration). 10 ⁻⁵ mol / mm ² ) when fixed (curve (4)), the current value decreases more slowly after the current starts to flow, and even after 600 seconds, it is about 50% or more of the initial current value. The current value is maintained. FIG. 7 shows only the measurement results up to 600 seconds (10 minutes). Thereafter, in the case of (2), 2% after 30 minutes, 1% after 1 hour, 1% after 2 hours, (3 ) Is 6.3% after 30 minutes, 5% after 1 hour, 3% after 2 hours, and (4) is 25% after 30 minutes, 18.9% after 1 hour, and 14.1 after 2 hours. %Met. The reason why a high current value can be maintained for a long time is because the electron transfer mediator is fixed at a high concentration on the cathode electrode, and the electron transfer mediator fixed at this high concentration becomes an electron pool, which is the primary pool. This is due to the fact that the stored electrons flow into the external circuit in addition to the electrons generated by the enzyme reaction.
From the above results, by fixing the electron transfer mediator to the cathode electrode at an average value of 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁶ mol / mm ² or more, the current value is increased for a long time even after the supply of oxygen to the cathode electrode is stopped. It can be seen that the level can be maintained.

FIG. 8 shows a fuel cell 300 having a configuration more suitable for practical use. In FIG. 8, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, this fuel cell 300 has a configuration in which an enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 as a cathode electrode (positive electrode) and an anode electrode (negative electrode) 115 are opposed to each other with a separator 109 as a proton conductor. doing. In this case, the separator 109 is made of a predetermined film having proton conductivity, such as cellophane. The anode electrode 115 is in contact with the fuel 123. Various fuels such as glucose can be used as the fuel 123. Current collectors 108 are placed under the enzyme-immobilized electrode 101 and the anode electrode 115, respectively, so that current collection can be performed easily.

Although one embodiment and example of the present invention have been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and example, and various modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention can be made. Is possible.
For example, the numerical values, structures, configurations, shapes, materials, and the like given in the above-described embodiments and examples are merely examples, and different numerical values, structures, configurations, shapes, materials, and the like may be used as necessary. Good.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cathode electrode, 5 ... Anode electrode, 7 ... Electrolyte solution, 8 ... Current collector, 9 ... Separator, 10 ... Fuel cell, 11 ... 1st component, 12 ... 2nd component, 100 ... Working electrode, 101 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Enzyme fixed electrode, 102 ... Glassy carbon electrode, 103 ... Fixing means, 104 ... Buffer, 105 ... Counter electrode, 106 ... Reference electrode, 107 ... Electrolyte solution, 108 ... Current collector, 109 ... Separator, 110 ... Lead , 120 ... communication hole, 121 ... electrode contact region, 200, 300 ... fuel cell, 201 ... battery lower part, 202 ... battery upper part

Claims (15)

A proton conductor is sandwiched between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode,
The cathode electrode has an electric conductivity and an enzyme immobilized on a porous material that allows gas to pass through, and at least a part of the cathode electrode is in contact with a gas phase reaction substrate. Fuel cell.   The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the cathode electrode is in a wet state.   The fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous material having electrical conductivity and allowing gas to pass through is made of carbon.   The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an electron transfer mediator is fixed to the porous material having electrical conductivity and gas permeation in addition to the enzyme.   The fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein an electron pool for accumulating electrons is formed by the electron transfer mediator. 6. The fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein the electron transfer mediator is fixed at an average value of 0.64 × 10 ⁻⁶ mol / mm ² or more.   The fuel cell according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein electrons are spontaneously accumulated in the electronic pool when an infinite resistance is connected as a load or when low power is supplied. A proton conductor is sandwiched between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode, and the cathode electrode is an electrically conductive and gas-permeable porous material on which an enzyme and an electron transfer mediator are fixed. The electron transfer mediator forms an electron pool for storing electrons, and when using a fuel cell that generates power by contacting at least a part of the cathode electrode with a gas phase reaction substrate,
When the supply of the reaction substrate to the cathode electrode is stopped, when the supply of the reaction substrate to the cathode electrode is decreased, or when the output is increased, electrons are supplied from the electron pool to the cathode electrode. How to use a fuel cell.   A fuel cell cathode electrode, wherein an enzyme is fixed to a porous material that is electrically conductive and permeable to gas, and at least a part of the cathode electrode is in contact with a gas phase reaction substrate.   The cathode electrode for a fuel cell according to claim 9, wherein an electron transfer mediator is fixed to the porous material having electrical conductivity and gas permeation in addition to the enzyme. Equipped with a fuel cell that sandwiches a proton conductor between the cathode and anode electrodes,
In the fuel cell, the cathode is electrically conductive, and an enzyme is fixed to a porous material that allows gas to pass through. At least a part of the cathode electrode includes a gas phase reaction substrate. An electronic device that is configured to contact. Having a pair of electrodes,
One of the pair of electrodes is one in which an enzyme is fixed to a porous material having electrical conductivity and allowing gas to pass, and at least a part of the electrode is a gas phase reaction substrate. An electrode reaction utilization device configured to come into contact with the device.   13. The electrode reaction utilization apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an electron transfer mediator is fixed to the porous material having electrical conductivity and gas permeation in addition to the enzyme.   The electrode reaction utilization apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the electrode reaction utilization apparatus is a biofuel cell, a biosensor, or a bioreactor.   An electrode for an electrode reaction utilization device, wherein an enzyme is fixed to a porous material that is electrically conductive and permeable to gas, and at least part of the electrode is in contact with a gas phase reaction substrate.

Images