We prepared different PtSnX (X = Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, and W) nanocatalysts supported on Vulcan carbon XC-72 with 40 wt% metal loading by thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors (DPP) and tested their activity in the electrooxidation of ethanol in acidic medium (0.05 mol L-1 H2SO4). We characterized the nanoparticles by EDX and XRD, which revealed 64% atomic ratio of Pt in an fcc structure with crystallite sizes of 4 to 10 nm. Electrochemical tests in the presence of ethanol showed that the addition of Ni to the PtSn/C nanocatalysts enhanced ethanol electrooxidation. The composition Pt66Sn11Ni23/C presented mass activity of 3.5 A g(Pt)(-1) and power density of 25 mW cm(-2) in a direct ethanol fuel cell test. The Ni effect on the PtSn nanocatalyst prompted us to synthesize and test other compositions containing this metal and use them in a direct ethanol fuel cell station. The Pt82Sn09Ni09/C nanocatalyst delivered the best power density value (45 mW cm(-2)). (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.