A Nanotube-Supported Dicopper Complex Enhances Pt-free Molecular H2/Air Fuel Cells

A dinuclear copper complex mimicking the active site of copper oxidase was designed and p-stacked on a carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode thanks to pendent pyrene groups. The high oxygen reduction reaction activity of such CNT-supported dicopper complexes in pH 4 electrolyte allowed the construction of a Pt-free hydrogen/air fuel cell using bioinspired nickel bis-diphosphine complexes immobilized onto CNT at the anode, with an order-of-magnitude improvement of the performance compared to previous literature data. This bioinspired nickel- and copper-based H-2/air fuel cell reaches a maximum power density of 0.15 mW cm(-2) at 0.25 V and pH 4.