Co3O4 hollow microspheres with two kinds of pore structures were produced and subsequently decorated with metal nanoparticles (Pt and Au) by a simple reduction method Cyclic voltammetry was adopted to investigate the adsorption-oxidation behavior of Pt/Co3O4 microspheres The results show that the Pt/Co3O4 modified electrodes exhibit high exposed Pt and could enhance catalytic performance for methanol oxidation The photocatalytical activity of Co3O4 with Au loadings was also investigated And the results display enhanced photocatalytic activity in degradation of methylene blue (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B V