An improvement in ethanol oxidation electrocatalysis is possible with multifunctional Pt-based combinations. Thus, the addition to Pt of Sn, Ir or Ni enhances the ethanol oxidation reaction (EO) and shifts the onset oxidation potential to lower values. It has been suggested that metallic oxides in the vicinity of Pt have the capacity of promoting the oxidation of residues coming from alcohol oxidative adsorption. In order to get a deeper knowledge on the ethanol oxidation catalysis, supported catalysts prepared either by thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors (PP) or by microwave assisted poliol reduction (MW) methodology are studied to determine the role of the catalyst components and its oxides on the improvement of ethanol oxidation. The catalysts are physically and electrochemically characterized. According to the synthesis method, the amount of SnO2 in the catalyst varies. Faceted particle structures for the microwave-synthesized catalysts are observed. By employing electrochemical techniques it is concluded that the catalyst with the highest amount of SnO2 has the best catalytic behaviour for EO. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.