A catalyst containing gold nanoparticles with Pt/alpha-Fe2O3/C was prepared by a co-precipitation method and its catalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid in alkaline solutions was evaluated by an electrochemical method and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The addition of gold nanoparticles improved catalytic activity only for the oxidation of methanol and formaldehyde, and not for the oxidation of formic acid. HPLC analysis was performed for methanol oxidation to detect the oxidative products. In HPLC analysis, only formate anion could be detected in the electrolyte solution and the ratio of formate anion obtained to the total passed charge in Pt/nano-Au/alpha-Fe2O3/C was less than that in Pt/C, indicating that formic acid is not the final product of methanol oxidation. These results show that gold nanoparticles promoted methanol oxidation up to CO2. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.