It is reported for the first time that the Pt - Ru/C catalyst was prepared with the solid phase reaction method.Cyclic voltammetric measurements indicated that the anodic peak potential of ethanol at the electrode with the Pt - Ru/C catalyst prepared with the solid phase reaction method was0.54V and the peak current was100mA · cm -2 .While the anodic peak potential and peak current were0.64V and43mA · cm -2 respectively at the Pt - Ru/C catalyst prepared with the traditional liquid phase reaction method.It illustrated that the electrocatalytic activity of the Pt - Ru/C catalyst prepared with the solid phase reaction method was much better than that of the Pt - Ru/C catalyst prepared with the traditional liquid phase reaction method.It is because the Pt - Ru/C catalyst prepared with the solid phase reaction method is of low crystallinity and high dispersivity.