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We investigate the possibility of producing biofuel cell electrode materials in vivo by injecting the reagents directly into plant tissues. We first introduce model electroactive substances Fe(CN)64− and Ru(NH3)63+ into a Nicotiana tabacum leaf. In situ electrochemical measurements make it possible to trace the distribution of these substances. As well as mapping the vascular content, electrochemistry can be used to trigger reactions directly inside the plant. The injection of thiophene (T) and ethylenedioxythiophene (E)-based trimers (ETE) anchoring an Os(2,2′-bipyridine)2(1-(3-aminopropyl)-imidazole)Cl Os-complex followed by the application of anodic polarization triggers a polymerization reaction in the region of the plant vascular system containing the monomer, showing that it is possible to generate electroactive organic macromolecules locally in vivo.

Au nanoparticles functionalized by short poly(ethylene glycol) chain ligands were suspended in a hydroalcoholic medium. This suspension was then printed by inkjet onto a Kapton® substrate. Gold electrodes consisting of four stacked printed layers exhibited a conductivity of (1 ± 0.1) × 107 S/m, close to that of Au bulk, after low-temperature thermal annealing. The electrochemical behaviour with respect to heterogeneous electron transfer reactions and the reactivity towards thiol chemisorption are identical to those obtained when a conventional polycrystalline Au electrode is used.

We demonstrate that electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistors (EGOFETs) can detect extremely minute modifications in the composition of the electrochemical double layers forming at the channel/electrolyte and gate/electrolyte interfaces, thus permitting real-time monitoring of alkylthiols self-assembling on a gold surface. We used this property to assay the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase which, in the presence of its substrate (acetylthiocholine), produces thiocholine. Keywords: Electrochemical double layer, EGOFET, Alkylthiol, Acetylcholinesterase