5-Aminoorotic acid (AOA) has amino, imino, and carboxyl groups, which can be used for controlled synthesis of nanomaterials. Herein, reduced graphene oxide supported AuPt nanocrystals (AuPt NCs/RGO) were prepared by a one-pot wet-chemical method using AOA as a new capping agent and structure director. The as-prepared nanocomposite was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The as-synthesized nanocomposite had enlarged electrochemically active surface area (34.6 m(2) g(Pt) (1)), and showed improved electrocatalytic activity and stability for ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) in contrast with Pt/RGO and Pt black catalysts. The corresponding specific activity and mass activity were 51.03 A m (2) and 1763.5 A g (1) for EGOR, respectively. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.