Biofuel cell and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9537170-B2
Application number	US-201214380021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2012
Priority date	Mar 9, 2012
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A small and high-density biofuel cell capable of easily supplying fuel; and an electronic apparatus are provided. The biofuel cell is formed using a stack in which two power generating bodies that include at least a pair of electrodes and a separator are stacked through a gas diffusion layer through which only gas is permeable, the electrodes forming an anode and a cathode and having at least one surface on which an oxidoreductase is present, the separator being arranged between the electrodes and including a proton permeable membrane. In addition, cathode-side surfaces of the respective power generating bodies of the stack are arranged in contact with the gas diffusion layer. This biofuel cell is mounted on the electronic apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A biofuel cell, comprising:
a plurality of power generating bodies that include at least a pair of electrodes and a separator, the pair of electrodes forming an anode and a cathode and having at least one surface on which an oxidoreductase is present, the separator being arranged between the pair of electrodes and including a proton permeable membrane; and
a gas diffusion layer that is arranged in contact with cathode-side surfaces of the plurality of power generating bodies and through which only gas is permeable, wherein:
a plurality of cylindrical stacks of the plurality of power generating bodies and the gas diffusion layer are concentrically arranged in a fuel tank to separate a fuel solution; and
the gas diffusion layer is between and abuts each of a first power generating body of the plurality of power generating bodies, and a second power generating body of the plurality of power generating bodies.

2. The biofuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the respective plurality of power generating bodies are connected in series, and
a fuel solution in a fuel tank is mutually separated by a stack of the plurality of power generating bodies and the gas diffusion layer.

3. The biofuel cell according to claim 2 ,
wherein a stack of the plurality of power generating bodies and the gas diffusion layer is detachable from the fuel tank.

4. The biofuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein a plurality of stacks of the plurality of power generating bodies and the gas diffusion layer are connected through a cover of a fuel tank.

5. The biofuel cell according to claim 1 ,
wherein the gas diffusion layer is formed of carbon paper, carbon cloth, or a non-woven or porous metal material.

6. An electronic apparatus, comprising
a biofuel cell,
wherein the biofuel cell includes:
a plurality of power generating bodies that include at least a pair of electrodes and a separator, the pair of electrodes forming an anode and a cathode and having at least one surface on which an oxidoreductase is present, the separator being arranged between the pair of electrodes and including a proton permeable membrane;
a gas diffusion layer that is arranged in contact with cathode-side surfaces of the plurality of power generating bodies and through which only gas is permeable, in which the gas diffusion layer is between and abuts each of a first power generating body of the plurality of power generating bodies, and a second power generating body of the plurality of power generating bodies; and

a plurality of cylindrical stacks of the plurality of power generating bodies and the gas diffusion layer are concentrically arranged in a fuel tank to separate a fuel solution.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Mita Hiroki

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02E60/527

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H01M8/16 Primary

  Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts · CPC title

• H01M8/243

  Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration · CPC title

• H01M8/004

  Cylindrical, tubular or wound · CPC title