Metal alloy for electrochemical oxidation reactions and method of production thereof

1. A method of producing a finely divided ruthenium-platinum alloy catalyst comprising:

(i) forming a mixture of platinum β-diketone and ruthenium β-diketone on a carbon support,

(ii) both, platinum β-diketone and ruthenium β-diketone having a decomposition temperature within 20° C. of each other,

(iii) decomposing said platinum β-diketone ruthenium β-diketone on a carbon support at a temperature of at least 260° C. in the absence of a reducing agent

(iv) followed by a reduction effected with a hydrogen containing gas mixture.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diketone is acetylacetonate.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the decomposition is effected at 260° C. to 300° C.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the decomposition is effected in an inert atmosphere at 280 to 320° C.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the inert atmosphere is argon.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the decomposition temperature is maintained generally constant for 2 to 4 hours.

7. A method of producing a ruthenium-platinum alloy catalyst comprising forming a mixture of platinum β-diketone and ruthenium β-diketone on a carbon support, both platinum β-diketone and ruthenium β-diketone having a decomposition temperature within 20° C. of each other, decomposing said platinum β-diketone and ruthenium β-diketone on a carbon support at a temperature of at least 260° C. and after equilibrium is reached at the final temperature, the mixture is reduced with a hydrogen containing gas mixture which is only added at a temperature of at least 260° C.