Synthesis of Mn^II and Cu^II complexes including azobenzene and its application to mediators of laccase for biofuel cells

Laccase is mainly used as an enzyme of a cathode electrode of a biofuel cell. One problem is rate limiting of electron transfer between electrodes and enzymes. To enhance transfer of electron from the electrode to the redox center in the enzyme, using mediators instead of substrates of laccase is one the solution. A selection of the mediator is important in improving the performance of the biofuel cell. Our laboratory has succeeded in improving the electron transfer function by controlling the polarization-induced molecular orientation of a complex having an azo dye in a laccase matrix. In this study, we will synthesize a mononuclear complex including azobenzene, a binuclear complex and a tetranuclear complex containing Cu^II or Mn^II/III ions, and evaluate how much multistep electron transfer and molecular orientation by multinuclear complex will contribute to function as a mediator.