Layer-by-layer SnO2 nanosheet/Pt/graphene was prepared by multi-stepped polyol process.
The layer-by-layer structure was confirmed upon physical characterization.
The ethanol electro-oxidation performance and mechanism were studied in detail.
SnO2/Pt/graphene shows superior ethanol oxidation activity and durability.
SnO2/Pt/graphene possesses better selectivity from ethanol to CO2 and CH3COOH.