SnO2 nanocrystals were synthesized by a precipitation process and then used as the support for Au/SnO2, catalysts preparation via a deposition-precipitation method. The samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The influence of calcination temperature of SnO2 support, calcination temperature of Au/SnO2 catalysts and Au loading on the catalytic activity of Au/SnO2, catalysts was investigated. The SnO2 samples calcined at 573 and 673 K were found to be the suitable support materials for Au/SnO2 catalysts. In all investigated Au/SnO2 catalysts with different An loading from 0.36 to 5.00 wt.%, the catalytic activity of the catalyst with 2.86 wt.% An loading was the highest. The optimum calcination temperature of the Au/SnO2 catalysts was 473 K. According to XRD, HRTEM and XPS, the catalytic activity of the Au/SnO2 catalysts was related to the particle size of gold and tin oxide support, the fraction of metallic state An and the degree of crystallinity of tin dioxide support. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.