Reactive Spray Deposition Technology (RSDT) was employed to synthesize 1 wt% Pt of 0.5-2 nm onto ceria of 8-30 nm. The catalyst was evaluated for water-gas shift (WGS) reaction with 1 vol% CO & 3 vol% H2O, atmospheric pressure, temperature range (100-350 C) and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 8622 h(-1). CO conversion of 15% (150 degrees C), 18% (200 degrees C), 37% (225 degrees C) and 100% (250 degrees C) was observed. Comparison with conventionally prepared catalysts (sol-gel, co-precipitation, and incipient wetness impregnation) from literature revealed superior activity with RSDT synthesized catalysts. Catalyst morphology was investigated with TGA, ICP-OES, XRD, TPR, HRTEM, and SEM with XEDS. No evidence of sintering or agglomeration of Pt nanoparticles was observed in HRTEM which could account for the dramatic improvement in activity. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.