One-step synthesis of palladium-gold-silver ternary nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide for the electrooxidation of methanol and ethanol

•A green procedure for preparing a Pd-Au-Ag/RGO electrocatalyst was developed.•The GO serves as the reducing agent, the stabilizing agent and the support.•Excellent electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation in alkaline media.

ABSTRACTSimultaneous redox reactions between K2PdCl4, HAuCl4, AgNO3, and graphene oxide (GO) are used to prepare Pd-Au-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) supported on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) by a facile method. The GO serves as the reducing agent, the stabilizing agent and the support. The morphology and composition of the Pd-Au-Ag(1:1:1)/RGO NPs are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements. The prepared Pd-Au-Ag(1:1:1)/RGO has good electrocatalytic activity and stability for the oxidation of methanol and ethanol in alkaline media. This prepared Pd-Au-Ag(1:1:1)/RGO catalyst should have great potential for use in direct alcohol fuel cell.