Platinum metal alloys are widely used in low temperature fuel cells. Carbon-supported PtRu alloys are generally used as catalyst in direct methanol fuel cell (DWC) anodes and as CO tolerant catalyst in solid polymeric fuel cell (PEFC) anodes. Pt alloyed with first-row transition elements is used as improved catalyst for both PEFC and DMFC cathodes. This paper presents an overview of the preparation and chemical and morphological characteristics of carbon-supported PtM (M = metal) catalysts. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.