A nanocomposite based on layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was prepared via hydrothermal treatment followed by a reduction procedure. The AuNPs were obtained in Mg-Al LDHs, and they maintained good stability. The electrocatalytic activities of AuNPs/LDH-modified glassy carbon electrodes for methanol oxidation in alkaline medium were investigated in detail. Under the same conditions, the modified electrode exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity than both the pure AuNPs-modified electrode and LDH-modified electrode. The role of the AuNPs and LDHs in this composite system was explored by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, respectively. Further studies demonstrated that the promoting effect of LDHs could be due to its strong adsorption and partly to the discharge of OH- during methanol oxidation. This work indicates that LDHs is expected to be a good supporting material in the development of methanol anode catalysts. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.