Enzymatic Biofuel Cell: Opportunities and Intrinsic Challenges in Futuristic Applications

Abstract

Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) are known as sustainable energy sources due to the utilization of renewable enzyme biocatalysts and fuels, together with mild working conditions. Remarkably, their novel and interesting applications in the fields of implantable energy supply devices and self‐powered biosensor are born and attract extensive attention worldwide. But the transition from fundamental research to practical application is problematic due to low efficiency, poor durability, tricky miniaturization, and so on. So, in addition to a detailed review, whether the full potential of these novel EBFCs‐based applications can be implemented will be clearly stated herein as well. More importantly, the emergences of EBFCs‐based self‐powered therapy systems and EBFCs‐based artificial organ open up more possibilities for the future EBFCs. Such remarkable directions and opportunities of EBFCs will also be prospected in detail.

Keywords

• controlled therapies
• enzymatic biofuel cells
• implantable energy supply devices
• self-powered biosensors