PtRu/C electrocatalysts were prepared by an alcohol-reduction process using ethylene glycol as solvent and reducing agent and Vulcan Carbon XC72R as support. Two different forms of electrocatalyst preparation were used, one in which the metals were reduced together in a single step (co-reduction of mixed ions) and the other with the metals being reduced separately in two successive steps (successive reduction of metal ions). The electrocatatalysts were characterized by EDAX, XRD, TEM and cyclic voltammetry and the electro-oxidation of ethanol was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The electrocatalysts prepared by co-reduction of mixed ions were the most active for ethanol oxidation and the performances increased with the increase of ruthenium content. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.