In the present study, fabrication of an inexpensive, tolerable and high performance electrocatalyst for glycerol fuel cells was performed by a combination of noble metals (Pt and Pd) with non-noble metals (Ni and Cu), decorated on nanoporous stainless steel () substrate. The surface morphology and composition of the prepared electrodes were determined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical properties have been investigated in 1.0 M KOH solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The performance of the prepared electrodes for glycerol electrooxidation was investigated in 1.0 M KOH solution containing 5.0 wt % glycerol, using CV, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoanalysis tests. In the first section of this study, Pt-Pd electrocatalyst (Pt-Pd/Cu/) was prepared by deposition of copper into the pores of using pulsed electrodeposition, and followed by incomplete galvanic replacement (GR) reaction, as a simple and effective method, between deposited Cu and Pt-Pd in precursor solution. Reduction in Pt-Pd loading (60.1 µg.cm -2 ), high catalytic performance, high mass activity (0.99) and long-term stability are some of the advantages of this electrocatalyst. In second study, improvement of the electrocatalyst features continued by removal of Pt, as an expensive and precious metal, and participation of a transition metal like Ni. Pd/Ni-Cu/ electrode was fabricated by electrochemical deposition of Ni-Cu into the pores of , and decorated by Pd nanoparticles loaded through GR. Electrochemical studies showed that this three metallic system, decorated on , exhibited a long-term stability, high electrochemical active surface area (435.37 cm 2 .mg -1 ) and roughness factor (28.44). Moreover, the noble metal loading was reduced significantly.
