PtPb/C and PtSb/C bi-metallic catalysts were synthesized by chemical deposition of Pb or Sb on a commercial 40% Pt/C catalyst. The performances of catalysts with a range of compositions were compared in a multi-anode direct formic acid fuel cell in order to optimize compositions and evaluate the statistical significance of differences between catalysts The catalytic activity for formic acid oxidation increased approximately linearly with adatom coverage for both PtPb/C and PtSb/C, to maxima at fractional coverages of ca 0.7. At a cell voltage of 0 5 V, the currents at the optimum Pb or SI) coverages were ca 8 times higher than at unmodified Pt/C. CO-stripping results indicate that the presence of Pb or SI) facilitates the oxidation of adsorbed CO In addition, both metals appear to produce electronic effects that inhibit poison formation on the modified Pt surface. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.