CuAg@Ag Core–Shell Nanostructure Encapsulated by N-Doped Graphene as a High-Performance Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Development of a robust, cost-effective, and efficient catalyst is extremely necessary for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cell applications. Herein, we reported a well-defined nanostructured catalyst of highly dispersed CuAg@Ag core-shell nanoparticle (NP)-encapsulated nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets (CuAg@Ag/N-GNS) exhibiting a superior catalytic activity toward ORR in alkaline medium. The synergistic effects produced from the unique properties of CuAg@Ag core-shell NPs and N-GNS made such a novel nanohybrid display a catalytic behavior comparable to that of the commercial Pt/C product. In particular, it demonstrated a much better stability and methanol tolerance than Pt/C under the same conditions. Because of its outstanding electrochemical performance and ease of synthesis, CuAg@Ag/N-GNS material was expected to be a promising low-cost catalyst for ORR in alkaline fuel cell applications.