# Self-powered cathodic detection of dissolved oxygen using a paper-based biofuel cell

## TL;DR

A self-powered paper-based biosensor detects dissolved oxygen using a biofuel cell, offering a low-cost and scalable solution for environmental and food monitoring.

## Contribution

A novel self-powered paper-based biofuel cell for dissolved oxygen detection is developed using screen-printed mesoporous carbon electrodes.

## Key findings

- The biosensor showed a linear response to dissolved oxygen concentrations from 0–22 mg L−1.
- Maximum power output of 398 µW cm−2 was achieved at 20 mg L−1 DO.
- The sensor successfully measured DO in pure water and a commercial soft drink without external power.

## Abstract

Herein we report the self-powered biosensor for detection of dissolved oxygen (DO) detection using a paper-based enzymatic biofuel cell (BFC) employing screen-printed electrodes composed of MgO-templated mesoporous carbon (MgOC). The sensor used an anode modified by flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FAD-GDH) and a cathode modified by bilirubin oxidase (BOD) to enable selective oxygen reduction under glucose-rich conditions. Electrochemical analyses revealed a linear relationship between the cathodic current and DO concentration over the range of 0–22 mg L−1, with a maximum power output of 398 µW cm−2 at 20 mg L−1 DO. The biosensor system was successfully used to quantify DO in both pure water and a commercial soft drink, without requiring external power sources. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost, disposable, and scalable DO sensing by using cathode-targeting enzymatic BFCs, thereby opening new avenues for environmental and food quality monitoring.

Herein we report the self-powered biosensor for detection of dissolved oxygen (DO) detection using a paper-based enzymatic biofuel cell (BFC) employing screen-printed electrodes composed of MgO-templated mesoporous carbon (MgOC).