Abstract:Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared according to a modified Hummer’s method, and graphene oxide aqueous solution, obtained by ultrasonic exfoliation, was then reduced by hydrothermal method to produce three-dimensional graphene (GN). The results showed that the as-prepared three-dimensional graphene material possessed a porous structure and some oxygen-containing groups disappeared after reduction. A glycerol enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC) was prepared using three-dimensional GN as the carrier, and Meldola’s blue as the mediator; Nafion (NF) was used to immobilize glycerol kinase (GK) and glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase (GPO) to prepare the anode catalyst, and platinum on carbon was used as the cathode catalyst. The results showed that the glycerol EBFC based on the NF/GN/MB enzyme-modified carbon paper electrode had good discharge performance. The open circuit potential was 0.77 V and the maximum power density was 42.05 μW/cm2 at 0.42 V. The assembly of the glycerol EBFC and the working conditions were optimized. The performance was also evaluated using polarization curve and alternating current (AC) impedance methods. This EBFC will provide a clean and reliable energy reuse approach for the treatment of glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel in the future.
