Quaternary PtRuFeCo nanoparticles supported N-doped graphene as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for low-temperature fuel cells

[Display omitted] •First time, a quaternary catalyst is tested as bifunctional catalyst using NG as support.•Exhibit higher ECSA (91m2g−1) and strong tolerance towards CO poisoning.•Two to three-fold increase in MOR activity than other multi-metallic catalysts.•Facilitate 4 electron transfer with high current in ORR (6.3mAcm−2).•Greatly reduce the cost of the catalyst due to less Pt usage and addition of Fe and Co. N-doped graphene supported quaternary electrocatalyst (PtRuFeCo/NG) was synthesized and evaluated for potential oxygen reduction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in fuel cells. The catalyst exhibited excellent MOR (strong CO tolerance, lower onset potential), ORR (four electron transfer) activities and delivered maximum power densities of 778 and 122mWcm−2 with direct methanol and proton exchange membrane fuel cells, respectively. The N-doping and synergistic effects of alloying low-cost Fe and Co with Pt and Ru makes PtRuFeCo/NG as excellent bifunctional catalyst that greatly reduces the processing cost of fuel cell which is the major problem facing the fuel cell industry.