The　slow　kinetics　of　the　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR)　remains　a　great　challenge　in　many　energy　storage　and　conversion　devices,　such　as　alkaline　fuel　cells　and　metal-air　batteries.　Herein,　a　self-supported　Au-based　alloy　(AuCuMo)　was　successfully　synthesized　by　a　one-pot　hydrothermal　method.　By　combining　Cu　and　Mo,　the　electronic　structure　of　Au　was　finely　tuned.　Furthermore,　the　electrochemical　stability　of　surface　Cu　was　enhanced　by　the　incorporation　of　Mo.　Benefitting　from　these　advantages,　the　reaction　of　oxygen　and　oxygenated　intermediates　on　AuCuMo　was　optimized,　and　the　intrinsic　activity　was　improved.　AuCuMo　thereby　exhibited　superior　ORR　activity　and　stability　compared　to　commercial　Pt/C　catalysts.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.