Swiss researchers develop first fully functional self-assembling biofuel cell

In Switzerland, researchers at ETH Zurich have developed the first fully functional biofuel cell whose biocatalysts (enzymes that play a critical role in power generation) directly self-assemble onto the electrodes. In about 5 minutes, enzyme-nanoparticle hybrids added to a biofuel cell solution selectively bind to either the anode or the cathode, and in doing so form the key components of the biofuel cell. The researchers have published a paper on the self-assembled biofuel cells in a recent issue of ACS Nano.