Electrocatalytic activity of PtAuPd/C nano multi-principal element alloy catalyst towards oxygen reduction reaction

Developing highly stable, low-platinum electrocatalysts is crucial for advancing fuel cell technology. In this study, a PtAuPd/C nano multi-principal element alloy catalyst was synthesized by a carbothermal shock method. The average particle size of the PtAuPd/C alloy nanoparticles is around 2.2 nm and the PtAuPd/C exhibits superior catalytic activity and stability towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) compared to the binary alloy catalysts (PtAu/C and PtPd/C). The PtAuPd/C displays a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.837 V and a Tafel slope of 53.1 mV dec−1. It demonstrates only a minimal E1/2 loss of 3.5 mV after 40 000 cycles and a mass activity retention rate of 78.2%. When employed as a cathode catalyst within a direct borohydride fuel cell, the PtAuPd/C catalyst exhibits a maximum power density of 438.3 mW cm−2. This improved ORR activity is attributed to synergistic electronic effects and modified surface strain within the PtAuPd nanoalloy.