Preparation and high-throughput screening of integrated bioelectrocatalytic redox polymeric systems to provide a toolbox for development of electrochemical devices for sensor and energy conversion

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Schuhmann
• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry
• Term: from 2009 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 133775033

A rational, designed route for the preparation of materials, allowing variation in biomolecule source, electronic connection through redox mediation and delivery of resilient, stable materials through immobilization, coupling chemistry and surface engineering is proposed. Synthesis of transition metal complex libraries with rational designed coordination sphere and formal potential on the one hand and the sourcing of functionalized polymers, and parallel synthesis of libraries of electrodeposition polymers (EDP), with predefined properties is the basis for the development of large libraries of redox polymers. Integration of enzymes within these redox polymers enables the design of electron-transfer pathways between the polymer-immobilized biological recognition elements and an electrode surface as a basis for the development of biosensors and especially biofuel cell electrodes. The parallel synthesis approach in combination with a high-throughput approach for both characterization of the individual members of the polymer library as well as the automated fabrication and testing of sensor configurations and biofuel cells will provide insights into the complex set of parameters which are interacting and determining the properties of amperometric biosensors and the features of biofuel cells. The research programme proposed will establish the building blocks for such a combined approach, to include the targeted synthesis and characterization of a library of mediating redox complexes and polymerizable supports, co-immobilization methodologies of these complexes with suitable biological elements, characterization of the films and surfaces, and investigation of their applications as biomolecular electronic devices such as (bio)sensing and (bio)fuel cells.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Ireland
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Donal Leech