Ternary nanostructured materials, fabricated by integrating three diverse metals, have been considered as promising cathode catalysts for fuel cells because of their synergetic effects and strain/ligand effects. That can result in effective charge transfer, weakened interactions with oxygenated species, and excellent methanol resistance. Owing to continued improvements in the production of ternary nanostructured materials, it is imperative to focus on recent advancements in this field. The present paper reviews different ternary nanostructures (i.e., support-free structures and supported catalysts), with an emphasis on their preparation methods, compositional and structural characteristics, as well as catalytic performance for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Moreover, the latest advances in ternary nanostructured catalysts for ORR at the cathodes of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are highlighted. This work provides insights into designing advanced ternary catalysts with an analysis of challenging issues in developing highly efficient and stable nanomaterials for ORR electro-catalysis and suggests some perspectives for alleviating the difficulties toward practical implementation. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
