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In this work, a facile general strategy is developed for preparation of palladium-based bimetallic alloyed nanodendrites (PdM NDs, M = Pt, Co, and Ni) via coreduction of Pd(II) acetylacetonate and M(II/III) acetylacetonate salts with oleylamine. Hexadecylpyridinium chloride monohydrate (HDPC) is used as a co-surfactant for preventing the aggregation of nanodendrites. Control experiments varying the precursors and reaction time demonstrate that the dendritic nanocrystals are formed via aggregation-based crystal growth. The as-prepared hybrid nanocrystals display improved electrocatalytic activity and better stability for methanol and ethylene glycol (EG) oxidation, compared with home-made Pd NDs and commercial Pd black catalysts. The developed method provides a novel platform for synthesis of novel electrocatalysts in fuel cells.

Popcorn-like PtAu nanoparticles were fabricated by a facile and green one-pot wet-chemical method, where H2PtCl4 and HAuCl4 were simultaneously reduced by glucosamine in alkaline media. The PtAu nanoparticles were further supported on reduced graphene oxide by simple ultrasonication. The nanocomposites showed an enhanced catalytic performance toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), dominated by a four-electron pathway, in comparison with Pt–rGO and commercial 10% Pt/C catalysts. Meanwhile, the nanocomposites displayed improved electrocatalytic properties and better stability for methanol oxidation over Pt–rGO and commercial Pt/C catalysts.