We report a non-aqueous solution preparation of Pd2Sn nanoparticles with sizes near 20 nm. The intermetallic compound with the Co2Si structure has been characterized using transmission electron microscopy, Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, and real-space pair distribution function analysis of high-energy synchrotron X-ray scattering. We also present a description of the electronic structure of this covalent intermetallic using density functional calculations of the electronic structure. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.