Synthesis of a Mo–Ru/Carbon Nanocomposite Using (η-C7H7)(OC)2MoRu(CO)2(η-C5H5) as a Single-Source Molecular Precursor

Degradation of a (η-C7H7)(OC)2MoRu(CO)2(η-C5H5)/carbon powder composite under appropriate thermal conditions affords a nanocomposite containing crystalline nanoclusters of Mo–Ru alloy highly dispersed on the carbon support. The alloy nanoparticles have an average diameter of 2.2 nm and crystallize as a fully disordered fcc lattice having a cell constant of 4.09 Å. When tested as an cathode catalyst in a direct methanol fuel cell, this nanocomposite shows significant methanol tolerance but affords current production too low to be of practical importance.