CeO2/C used in this study was prepared by a solid-state reaction under the microwave irradiation. The activities of Pt/C, Pt/-CeO2/C for electrochemical oxidation of ethanol were studied in 1.0 M KOH solution by cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that the composite of Pt-CeO2/C gave the better performance than Pt/C. The influence of the amount of the addition of CeO2 on the catalytic activity of alcohols oxidation on platinum electrode in alkaline solution was tested. The electrode with the weight ratio of Pt to CeO2 of 2:1 with a platinum loading of 0.30 mg cm(-2) showed the highest electro-catalytic activity. (c) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.