[en] PtSnRh electrocatalysts supported on carbon-Sb₂O₅.SnO₂, with metal loading of 20 wt%, were prepared by an alcohol-reduction process, using H₂PtCl₆.6H₂O (Aldrich), RhCl₃.xH₂O (Aldrich) and SnCl₂.2H₂O (Aldrich), as source of metals; Sb₂O₅.SnO₂ (ATO) and carbon Vulcan XC72, as support; and ethylene glycol as reducing agent. The electrocatalysts obtained were characterized physically by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The diffractograms showed which PtSnRh/C-ATO electrocatalysts had FCC structure of Pt and Pt alloys, besides several peaks associated with SnO₂ and ATO. The average sizes of crystallites were between 2 and 4 nm. TEM micrographs showed a good distribution of the nanoparticles on the support. The average sizes of particles were between 2 and 3 nm, with good agreement for the average size of the crystallites. The performances of the electrocatalysts were analyzed by electrochemical techniques and in real conditions of operation using single direct ethanol fuel cell. In the chronoamperometry at 50 deg C, the electrocatalysts with carbon (85 wt%) and ATO (15 wt%) support, showed the best activity, and the atomic proportions which achieved the best results were PtSnRh(70:25:05) e (90:05:05). PtSnRh(70:25:05)/85C+15ATO electrocatalysts showed the best performance in a direct ethanol fuel cell. (author)