Finely divided platinum-gold alloy powders prepared in ethylene glycol

Particles of Pt-Au alloy (50:50 wt.% ratio) have been synthesized by chemic al reduction of an ethylene glycol solution of AuCl4- and PtCl62- by heatin g at a slow rate to 120 degrees C. The effect of the synthesis procedure on the alloy characteristics of these particles was assessed from their X-ray diffractograms. True alloyed particles give diffractograms whose main peak s correspond neither to those of metallic gold nor to metallic platinum. El ectron microscopy observation revealed that Pt-Au alloy particles are forme d bl: aggregation of nanosized particles. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Sc ience S.A. All rights reserved.