Carbon supported Pt/Pb and Pt/Ru/Pb catalysts were prepared by deposition of Pb on commercial Pt and Pt/Ru catalysts, respectively. It was found that after addition of Pb, the catalytic activity of Pt and Pt/Ru for ethanol oxidation increased greatly, especially at high potentials. It has been shown that decorating commercial Pt and Pt/Ru catalysts with Pb is a simple and effective way to prepare carbon supported Pt/Pb and Pt/Ru/Pb catalysts for ethanol oxidation. The physical properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, EDX and TEM, and it was found that no Pt/Pb and Pt/Ru/Pb alloys were formed. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.