Currently, Pt-based nanomaterials with tailorable shapes, structures, and morphologies are the most popular electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, which is a significant cathode reaction in fuel cells for renewable energy applications. We have successfully synthesized mesoporous core-shell Au@PtNi ternary metallic nanoparticles through a one-pot reduction method for cathodic materials used as oxygen reduction reaction catalysts. The as-synthesized nanoparticles exhibited superior catalytic activities and long-term stabilities compared with mesoporous core-shell Au@Pt nanoparticles and commercial Pt/C. The unique mesoporous core-shell structures as well as the alloy shells enable the enhanced electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction performances of the Pt-based materials via the electronic effect and geometric effect, holding great promise in fuel cell application.
Keywords: core−shell nanoparticles; mesoporous structures; one-pot process; oxygen reduction reaction; ternary metal.