Highly efficient and stable nonplatinum anode catalyst with Au@Pd core-shell nanostructures for methanol electrooxidation

► Au@Pd core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by a three-phase-transfer approach. ► Pd shell is uniformly coated on the monodispersed Au cores. ► Au@Pd NPs are highly active and durable for the methanol oxidation in alkaline media. ► Superior activity and durability mainly determined by the upshift of d-band center.