The partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas has been studied over a Pt/10% Rh gauze catalyst. The experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure using a single gauze in a quartz reactor heated in an electric furnace. The furnace temperature was varied in the range 200-1050 degrees C and the space time in the range 0.00015-0.0005 s. The feed consisted of a mixture of CH4 : O-2 : Ar approximate to 2 : 1 : 10 and oxygen was only partly consumed. The products were carbon oxides, water, hydrogen and traces of C-2-hydrocarbons with compositions far from equilibrium. Compared to a Pt metal gauze a higher methane conversion and more favourable selectivities of synthesis gas, and in particular of H-2, were obtained at similar furnace temperatures. The Pt/10% Rh gauze showed a better stability with time on stream compared to the Pt gauze. No loss of metal was observed from the Pt/10% Rh gauze after 8 h on stream. The oxidation reactions were studied separately from steam reforming and the water-gas shift reaction at temperatures up to 1050 degrees C at a space time of 0.00021 s. At 960 degrees C the results indicate that CO and H-2 are formed beside H2O as primary products.