A Bio-Inspired Sustainable Sugar Battery Integrated with a Reversible Coordination Complex

Abstract

We introduce an eco-friendly sugar battery powered by renewable glucose and a reversible coordination complex, achieving remarkable electrochemical performance that replaces noble metals on the cathode and circumvents sluggish oxygen reduction reactions. Utilizing biomass-derived fuel and carbon electrode, our system delivers an impressive peak power density of ∼41 mW/cm²; nearly 7 times higher than conventional noble metal-based glucose-oxygen fuel cells, highlighting a prominent step toward sustainable energy technologies. The battery’s non-toxic, refillable design underlines its potential for portable and large-scale green energy applications. This work paves the way for next-generation, cost-effective electrochemical systems that utilize green materials with high efficiency, thereby accelerating the transition to a clean energy future.