Low-coordinated surface sites make truncated Pd tetrahedrons as robust ORR electrocatalysts outperforming Pt for DMFC devices

Developing highly stable and active non-Pt oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts for power generation device raises great concerns and remains a challenge. Here, we report novel truncated Pd tetrahedrons (T-Pd-Ths) enclosed by {111} facets with excellent uniformity, which have both low-coordinated surface sites and distinct lattice distortions that would induce “local strain”. In alkaline electrolyte, the T-Pd-Ths/C achieves remarkable ORR specific/mass activity (SA/MA) of 2.46 mA·cm⁻²/1.69 A·mg_Pd⁻¹, which is 12.3/16.9 and 10.7/14.1 times higher than commercial Pd/C and Pt/C, respectively. The T-Pd-Ths/C also exhibits high in-situ carbon monoxide (CO) tolerance and 50,000 cycles durability with an activity loss of 7.69% and morphological stability. The rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) measurements show that a 4-electron process occurs on T-Pd-Ths/C. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the low-coordinated surface sites contribute largely to the enhancement of ORR activity. In actual direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) device, the T-Pd-Ths/C delivers superior open-circuit voltage (OCV) and peak power density (PPD) to commercial Pt/C from 25 to 80 °C, and the maximum PPD can reach up to 163.7 mW·cm⁻². This study demonstrates that the T-Pd-Ths/C holds promise as alternatives to Pt for ORR in DMFC device.