One-step fabrication of tri-metallic PdCuAu nanothorn assemblies as an efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

The design of highly branched Pd-based nanostructures is very important for various electrocatalytic applications. Herein, we report a very simple one-step method for direct fabrication of tri-metallic PdCuAu nanothorn assemblies (PdCuAu NAs) in aqueous solution. The obtained unique PdCuAu NAs with a well-defined shape are highly branched and self-supported nanostructures assembled from staggered nanothorns as building blocks, and exhibit superior catalytic activity, durability and methanol-tolerant ability for the oxygen reduction reaction, benefiting from their branched structure and tri-metallic compositions. In comparison with traditional routes, the newly developed one-step fabrication method without the need for any seed, multi-step procedure and organic solvent is very feasible for the fabrication of branched multi-metallic Pd-based catalysts with designed compositions.