We report the performance of M@Pt (M = Pd, Fe3O4, Ru) core-shell nanostructures for the ORR in H2SO4. The nanomaterials were rapidly synthesized in a total of 120 s applying magnetic (MS), mechanical (UT) and sonochemical (USS) stirring. Pt-alone nanoparticles were also synthesized by UT and served as a reference to evaluate the performance of the core-shell cathodes. Crystalline features were obtained from the Pd and the Fe3O4 cores, while Ru cores apparently having quasi-amorphous characteristics or too small particle sizes were formed. Nevertheless, the three core-shell materials showed crystalline Pt features. From Scherrer analysis, it was determined that core-shell nanostructures with particle sizes from 7.3 to 9.2 nm were formed. The electrochemical characterization confirmed that active core-shell cathodes were obtained, with two of the Pd Pt materials showing catalytic activities as high as that of the Pt-alone nanop articles, or even higher in terms of mass activity. XPS analysis indicated that mainly Pt(0) species were formed at the cathodes, along with Pt(II) and Pt(IV). It was found that catalysts with high Pt(IV):Pt(II) showed enhanced catalytic activity for the reduction of oxygen. In the presence of ethanol, the evaluated Pd Pt cathode showed the higher selectivity towards the ORR compared to the other cathodes. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.