Modeling Carbon Nanotube Connectivity and Surface Activity in a Contact Lens Biofuel Cell.pdfVIP

Electrochimica Acta 203 (2016) 30–40 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Electrochimica Acta journal homepage: /locate/electacta Modeling Carbon Nanotube Connectivity and Surface Activity in a Contact Lens Biofuel Cell Russell C. Reida,*, Sean R. Jonesa, David P. Hickeyb, Shelley D. Minteerb, Bruce K. Galea a Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, 1495 E 100 S, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States b Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E, Rm 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 23 January 2016 Received in revised form 31 March 2016 Accepted 3 April 2016 Available online 6 April 2016 Keywords: Biofuel cell computational modeling carbon nanotube matrix contact lens ABSTRACT Biofuel cells are often limited by the current density produced by the cathode; this is especially true when such fuel cells are scaled down to ?t a desired application. Herein, we created a computational model to examine the effects of carbon nanotube (CNT) connectivity and surface activity on the current density of a biofuel cell cathode. The model was motivated by the creation of a novel contact lens biofuel cell that, although more stable and biocompatible than previously reported designs, was cathode limited. The device produced a maximum current density of 22 ? 4 mA cmà2, and a maximum power density of 2.4 ? 0.9 mW cmà2 (at 0.163 V) with an open-circuit voltage of 0.44 ? 0.08 V. Computational results showed that in a Na?on ?lm containing 1.6% CNTs by volume, less than 20% of the CNT ?bers were connected to the electrode, assuming a planar electrode. The simulations predicted that a three-fold increase in CNT loading would lead to a roughly two-fold increase in total CNT connectivity. The simulations further estimated that for the CNTs connected to the electrode, only 21% of their sidewalls were contributing to cathodic current, meaning that the remaining surfaces were not electrochemically activ