Ru decorated Pt nanoparticles by a modified polyol process for enhanced catalytic activity for methanol oxidation

► Ru decorated Pt nanoparticles were formed on MWCNTs by 2 step polyol method. ► Methanol oxidation on PtRu/MWCNTs (2 step) is more facile than common PtRu/MWCNTs. ► The modified method maximized the catalytic role of Ru.