Liquid phase catalytic exchange is mainly used for separation of hydrogen isotopes from liquid water. Based on the carbon-supported Pt and Pt-Ru catalysts with different metal and oxide species distributions, several hydrophobic catalysts, used in the reaction, were fabricated. The characterization results indicated that alloy and amorphous nanoparticles were formed in the Pt0.5Ru0.5/C catalyst using the microwave-irradiated polyol method. After reduction, the content of metallic species increased and that of hydrous Ru oxide species significantly decreased. A Pt0.5Ru0.5O2/C catalyst containing more oxide species was also synthesized by the microwave-irradiated oxidation precipitation method. Performance tests demonstrated that the presence of more metallic Pt species in both the hydrophobic Pt and Pt Ru catalysts resulted in higher catalytic activity. The addition of Ru, as an alloy or as a hydrous oxide, can improve the catalytic activity of pure Pt. These experimental results were explained by the reaction mechanisms. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu.