TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The concentration of platinum and ruthenium on the support is 1 to 90 (preferably 20-80) wt.% based on the total weight of the catalyst. The concentration of platinum, ruthenium and gold on the support is 1-90 (preferably 20-80) wt.% based on the total weight of the catalyst. The concentration of platinum and cobalt on the support in catalyst (C1) is 1 to 90 (preferably 20-80) wt.% based on the total weight of the catalyst.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preparation (Disclosed): Preparation of supported platinum-ruthenium alloy catalyst involves activating the precursor compound of ruthenium metal by adjusting the reaction temperature to 80-160 degrees C; adding the precursor compound of platinum metal to the slurry; and after a certain period of time, further increasing the temperature to 160-300 degrees C. Preferred Catalyst: The supported platinum-ruthenium alloy catalyst further comprises 0.1 to 5 wt.% gold, based on the total weight of the catalyst. EXAMPLE - A 50 wt.% Pt-Ru/C alloy catalyst was prepared as follows: 12.0 g Ru(III)-chloride (aqueous solution with 20 wt.% Ru) were taken in 500 ml 1,2-propylene glycol (PG) in a reaction flask. After stirring for 30 minutes at 300 rpm, conc. NaOH solution was added to obtain the desired pH value of 5.5. About 1.75 g arabic gum (previously dissolved in 10 ml of water under mixing) was added to the above reaction mixture by rinsing the beaker with 50 ml polyol. After 30 minutes mixing, 7.0 g Vulcan XC 72R (RTM: carbon black) was added to the mixture. After 1 hour of mixing, the content of the flask was heated up to 150 degrees C. After the mixture had adjusted to this temperature, the Pt precursor was added. About 18.4 g chloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6, aqueous solution with 25 wt.% Pt) dissolved in 100 ml 1,2-propylene glycol (PG) were slowly added into the flask with a dropping funnel. The temperature of the reaction mixture was then increased to the boiling temperature of PG (Tbp=188 degrees C). The final temperature was maintained for 30 minutes. The slurry was then cooled to 150 degrees C. Then 275 ml of cold DI water was added to bring the temperature to 100 degrees C. At this point, conc. HCl solution was added to attain a pH value of 0.8 and the temperature was maintained at 100-110 degrees C for 120 minutes in order to hydrolyze the arabic gum. Stirring was continued for additional 30 minutes. When the system cooled to room temperature, the solids were allowed to settle down and the solvent was decanted. The solid residue was washed with 500 ml of 1:1 ethanol-water solution for 10 minutes and allowed to settle down. This step was repeated once and then once again washed with 500 ml DI water. The solid residue was filtered under vacuum and was transferred to a desiccator for drying. The catalyst showed following catalyst characterization: Composition: 50 wt.% PtRu on Vulcan XC72R; Pt/Ru ratio: 1:1 (atomic ratio); Crystallite size 2.3 nm (by XRD); Lattice constant: 0.3824 nm (by XRD); Degree of alloying: high. A control catalyst was prepared as follows: Black Pearls 2000 (RTM: a high surface area carbon black support) was used instead of activated carbon. About 1.9 g of RuCl3x 3 H2O (35.8 wt.% Ru) were dissolved in 400 ml of 1,2-ethylene glycol (EG) for 30 minutes. About 3.3 g of H2PtCl6x H2O (40 wt.% Pt) were dissolved in 400 ml of the same solvent. Black Pearls 2000 (2 g) were suspended in 900 ml of 1,2-ethylene glycol for 30 minutes. The Ru-and the Pt-salt solution were mixed together and poured into the carbon black suspension. After further mixing for 30 minutes, the suspension was heated to the boiling point of 1,2-ethylene glycol (Tbp=197 degrees C) and refluxed for 1 hour. Then the suspension was filtered and the solid residue was washed with DI water and dried under vacuum overnight. As a result, a 50 wt.% PtRu catalyst was obtained. The control catalyst characterization was as follows: Composition: 50 wt.% PtRu on Black Pearls 2000; Pt:Ru ratio: 1:1 (atomic ratio); Crystallite size: 7.1 nm (by XRD); Lattice constant: 0.3888 nm (by XRD) and Degree of alloying: low (incomplete alloying).