Carbon supported binary catalysts are not often reported with respect to the borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR) in direct borohydride fuel cell applications. Specifically, the synergistic effect of the catalysts toward the BOR has not been addressed. The kinetics and mechanistic studies on the direct BOR on PtSn/C were presented by comparing the data on Pt/C in three solutions with different concentrations of NaOH. The results based on stationary cyclic voltammetry (CV), rotating disk electrode (RDE), and chronopotentiometry manifested the synergistic effect of PtSn/C toward the BOR. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.043208jes]