Miniature biofuel cells

The history of electrochemical power sources shows that batteries or fuel cells were introduced only when the development of new electrical or electronic system demanded these. At this time, the already established feasibility of miniaturization of implantable sensor-transmitter systems to volumes smaller than 1 mm3, and the demand for spatially and temporally resolved information on local temperature, flow, pressure and chemical concentrations, are likely to create a demand for a miniature, low cost glucose-O2 biofuel cell that would power the autonomous sensor–transmitters for a few weeks. Prototypes of these cells are in hand. Their most unique feature which is their structural simplicity, is made possible…