Enzymatic Glucose-Oxygen Biofuel Cells for Highly Efficient Interfacial Corrosion Protection

Biofuel cells (BFCs) are electrochemical devices that rely on the transformation of chemical energy into electricity through biochemical pathways, however delivering only moderate or low power and voltage. This intrinsic limitation narrows their potential applications for driving electronics and thermodynamic systems with higher energy demands than what can be delivered by the BFCs alone. Nevertheless, coupling BFCs to electronic circuits, able to raise their voltage, allows circumventing these drawbacks. In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate an unconventional way of achieving highly efficient electrochemical corrosion protection of an iron surface in a chloride rich medium. The required protecting cathodic potential is generated by a self-powered bioelectronic system, consisting of a BFC, which can, despite its low voltage output (0.3 V), completely prevent interfacial corrosion if it is combined with an electronic boost converter.