NOVELTY - A composition comprises an alloy (I) with metal comprising one element of Group VIII elements and Group Ib elements.    USE - As composite material (claimed) used in machines and equipment; in an electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR); in an electrochemical hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR); in an electrochemical methanol oxidation reaction (MOR); and as an electrocatalytically active component in fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE - The composite or composition provides improved catalytic activity.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A composition comprises an alloy of formula (M1xM2aM3(1-x-a)) (I) with metal comprising one element of Group VIII elements and Group Ib elements.    M1xM2aM3(1-x-a)=nominal composition of the alloy;    M1x=first metal comprising one element of the Group VIII elements and the Group Ib elements;    M2a=second metal comprising one element of the Group VIII elements and the Group Ib elements;    M3(1-x-a)=third metal comprising one element of the Group VIII elements and the Group Ib elements.    Where M1x is more noble than M2a; M3(1-x-a) is any one of more noble than M2a, less noble than M2a, and as noble as M2a; the total atomic percent of the more noble elemental, M1x, and optionally, more noble elemental, M3(1-x-a), present in the alloy comprises 10 to 50 atomic percent and atomic fraction (x or (x+(1-x-a)) or (1-a) is 0.1-0.5; and the more noble elemental, M1x and elemental, M2a, are configured to ensure a low activation energy for a reaction rate of the elementary reaction step in an electrocatalytic process of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a composite material of formula (M1xM2aM3(1-x-a))y divide by C' (II);    (2) making (M1) a composite comprising an electrically conductive matrix and a partially electrically conductive matrix and nanoparticles, involving: (a) forming a gel from preselected amounts of: at least one M(II) based salt, at least one electrically conductive matrix source and at least one partially electrically conductive matrix source, at least one polyelectrolyte, and at least one surfactant; (b) pyrolyzing the gel of step a) in a reducing atmosphere and/or inert atmosphere to form a composite including an electrically conductive matrix or a partially electrically conductive matrix and nanoparticles; (c) reducing the composite of step b) to composite particles; (d) subjecting the composite particles of step c) to at least one metallization; and (e) hardening or tempering the composite particles of step d) in a reducing atmosphere and/or inert atmosphere;    (3) making (M2) a composition involving: performing the steps of the method (M1);    (4) making (M3) composite material (II), involving: performing the steps of the method (M1); and    (5) making (M4) a composition comprising the alloy (I), involving: performing the steps of the method (M1).    y=total weight percent (wt.%) of the alloy (I).