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

Abstract

The future deployment of hydrogen fuel cells on a large scale will only be achieved if catalysts based on Earth-abundant elements are found to replace currently used rare and expensive noble metals. In this work, we integrated a novel copper-based bioinspired molecular catalyst in a fuel cell, owing to its immobilization on carbon nanotubes. This fuel cell is a first proof of concept for a H 2 /air fuel cell based on non-precious-metals, inspired from the active site of nickel and copper-based enzymes.

Noncovalent Integration of a Bioinspired Ni Catalyst to Graphene Acid for Reversible Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Oxidation

“… 68 , 69 Importantly, such bioinspired electrodes are tolerant to CO, 66 compatible with proton-exchange membrane (PEM) technology, and they have been successfully integrated into fully functional proof-of-concept fuel cell devices. 69 , 71 , 72 …”

Complexes of the Bis(di‐tert‐butyl‐aniline)amine Pincer Ligand: The Case of Copper

“…It must be stressed that we recently immobilized mono and dicopper‐phenolato complexes which exhibit smaller onset potentials of + 0.33 V (pH 4) towards both O 2 and H 2 O 2 reduction. [11c], Thus, despite the fact that only 150 mV are still to be gained in order to reach the best iron‐porphyrin‐based catalyst efficiency, these tricopper complexes represent a novel family of promising molecular electrocatalysts based on earth abundant metals for H 2 O 2 reduction under mild conditions.…”

A Review on Bioinspired Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: Design and Materials

“…In another work, the electrochemical behavior of a π ‐stacked dinuclear copper complex on a multiwalled CNT (Cu 2 (BPMPpyrene)]/MWCNT) electrode over a wide range of pH, mimicking the active site of copper oxidase, is reported by Gentil et al [ 133 ] The electrode design exhibits ORR electroactivity with an onset potential of +0.57 V at pH 4 and 0.71 V at pH 9 versus reference hydrogen electrode. However, the outcome confirms that the optimal ORR activity of this type of complex appears in basic conditions.…”

“…Schematic representation of the H 2 /air bioinspired FC with [Cu 2 (BPMP-pyrene)]-functionalized MWCNT as the cathode electrode and [Ni II (P Cy 2 N Arg 2)2] 8þÀ MWCNT as the anode electrode. Reproduced with permission [133]. Copyright 2019, Elsevier.…”