Platinum free ternary electrocatalysts prepared via organic colloidal method for oxygen reduction

Novel ternary palladium based alloy catalysts, PdFeIr/C, for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have been successfully prepared via an organic colloid method with ethylene glycol as solvent and sodium citrate as complexing agent. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Electrochemical activity of the catalysts for ORR was evaluated by steady state polarization measurements, which were carried out on an ultra thin layer rotating disk electrode (RDE). Compared to pure Pd/C and Pd3Fe/C, results showed that the ORR activity of PdFeIr/C was highest, and its methanol tolerance was better than Pt/C catalyst.