A quaternary metal-metalloid-nonmetal electrocatalyst: B, P-co-doping into PdRu nanospine assemblies boosts the electrocatalytic capability toward formic acid oxidation

The development of highly active, durable and cost-effective electrocatalysts toward the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) is meaningful for direct formic acid fuel cell technology. In this work, we develop a facile one-pot strategy based on a NaH2PO2-NaBH4-DMF reaction system for B, P-co-doping into pre-synthesized PdRu nanospine assemblies (PdRu NAs), resulting in quaternary PdRuBP NAs. The synergism of hyperbranched nanoarchitectonics and quaternary metal (Pd, Ru)-metalloid (B)-nonmetal (P) composition of PdRuBP NAs largely boosts their electrocatalytic capability for the FAOR, with enhanced activity and durability and improved tolerance toward COads. The research results may add to a growing toolbox of important doping strategies that yield metal nanocrystals doped with two or more selected metalloid and/or nonmetal elements, offering unique capabilities for property/functionality optimization.