ABSTRACT
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While attempting to use platinum in fuel cells, it has been demonstrated that its surface exhibits important electrocatalytic activities toward the oxidation of organic compounds. However, this effect can sometimes be enhanced by the use of bimetallic surfaces [1-10]. The physical mixture and the electronic interaction of the alloy components lead to a modification in the interaction between the adsorbate and the substrate in an electrocatalytic reaction. As a consequence of the structural changes at the single crystal surfaces during the electrochemical activation (examined with in situ STM) [11], it has been demonstrated that most of the catalysts are constituted by randomly oriented islands [12-14].
