Several Pt-on-Au/SnO2-CNTs catalysts with different Pt loadings are synthesized through site-selective electrodeposition for catalytic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in alkaline media. The catalysts are tested to exhibit extremely high Pt mass activity towards MOR, and the catalytic mechanism is proposed based on the synergetic effect between Pt and Au, in which the Pt entities provide Pt-OH for oxidation of alkoxide (CH3O-) while the Au surfaces provide adsorption sites for alkoxide. It is expected that this mechanism could be extended to developing high performance non-Pt catalysts for MOR in alkaline media. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.