Electronic structure control over Pd nanorods by B, P-co-doping enables enhanced electrocatalytic performance

The popularization and commercialization of direct formic acid fuel cells require the development of superior electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR). Herein, we report a ternary metal-metalloid-nonmetal PdBP catalyst that was fabricated via the co-doping of B and P elements into pre-synthesized Pd nanorods. Due to the coordinated enhancement of its rod-like structure and the doping of B and P, the structural and compositional advantages of ternary PdBP nanorods (PdBP NRs) can synergistically improve the electrocatalytic FAOR, achieving a mass activity of 1.32 mA mu g(Pd)(-1) and a specific activity of 4.58 mA cm(-2), which is superior to Pd NRs, PdB NRs, PdP NRs and commercial Pd black. This study may spotlight a compositional engineering avenue to develop newly advanced doped metal-based catalysts for electrocatalysis systems.