Different adatom modified shape-controlled Pt nanoparticles have been prepared and their electrocatalytic properties have been evaluated toward ethanol electrooxidation. Based on previous findings with Pt model surfaces, Sn, Rh, Ru and Pb adatoms have been selected as promising surface modifiers. The different adatoms have been gradually incorporated on the surface of the preferentially oriented (100) and (111) Pt nanoparticles under electrochemical conditions. The results obtained in 0.5 M H2SO4 indicated that, among the selected adatoms, Sn-modified nanoparticles displayed not only a significant shift to negative values on the onset potential of the ethanol oxidation, but also an important decrease on the hysteresis between the positive and negative sweeps. Interestingly, in chronoamperometic measurements at 0.6 V, the oxidation enhancement factors have been found to be dependent on the surface structure of the Pt nanoparticles. On the other hand, Ru and Pb-modified Pt nanoparticles only presented a rather small oxidation enhancement, whereas the activity of the Rh-modified Pt nanoparticles clearly diminished. In alkaline solutions, the oxidation mechanism changes, and the adsorption of Rh, Sn and Pb on the platinum surfaces just displays small catalytic effect at lower coverage for the potential onset in the voltammetric experiments. Ru adsorption does not present any positive effect over the reaction. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.