Carbon nanotubes/tin oxide nanocomposite (MWCNTs-SnO2) was obtained via the hydrolysis of SnCl4 in the presence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and subsequent calcinations. And carbon nanotubes/tin oxide nanocomposite-supported Pt catalysts (Pt/MWCNTs-SnO2) were prepared by in-situ liquid phase reduction using H2PtCl6 as a metal precursor. As-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their catalytic performances were evaluated by chronoamperometry (CA) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Desirable catalytic performance for methanol electro-oxidation was observed with a reduced size and an improved dispersion of Pt catalysts on the NTVVCNTs-SnO2 nanocomposite. The calcination temperature of MWCNTs-SnO2 nanocomposite was a key factor for controlling the catalytic performance of Pt/MWCNTs-SnO2 catalysts. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.