Recent development in the preparation of nanoparticles as fuel cell catalysts

•Electrocatalysts showing high activity and durability in membrane electrode assembly.•Recent development of high-performance electrocatalysts for the reduction of oxygen.•Perovskite-related materials as no-PGM electrocatalysts.•New design relevant to the scalable production of facet-controlled electrocatalysts.

This review presents a handful of selective recent examples on the preparation of electrocatalysts that are critical for the development of low temperature hydrogen polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The emphasis is placed on the following three aspects: first, methods that show the potentials for low-cost production and ease in the development of high-performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA); second, new approaches for the continuous production of well-controlled catalysts; and third, Pt-free electrocatalysts.