Ceria loaded on reduced graphene oxide containing bimetallic Pt2–Pd3 alloy as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for electrooxidation of methanol in active direct methanol fuel cell application

The valuable formation of ternary nanocomposite electrocatalysts with a combination of less expensive transition metal oxides, demonstrated exceptional electrocatalysis process and long-term durability performance towards the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in the application of active direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The ternary electrocatalysts through the combination among Pt2–Pd3 alloy, rGO and different tunable content of ceria were successfully produced via a simple and facile single-step hydrothermally aided reduction of formic acid procedure. The produced ternary nanocomposite electrocatalyst's suitability as an anode electrocatalyst in favour of the electrocatalytic efficiency of MOR performance is extensively investigated along with the significant effects of varying ceria loadings (0.30 wt% - 0.90 wt%). The results clearly demonstrated that more efficient and active of MOR occurred on the surface of ternary electrocatalyst with an optimal ceria amount of 0.45 wt%. Meanwhile, the DMFC testing evaluation based on the EC0.45–40 wt% provides distinguishably better DMFC performance with the highest power density value of 112.64 mW cm−2 achieved compared to the commercial electrocatalysts at 60 °C. Therefore, based on the DMFC performance results, the produced EC0.45–40 wt% demonstrated a very promising and remarkable anode electrocatalyst that can be employed in DMFC.