In this research, the activity and stability for methanol electro-oxidation on Pt-Ru/C catalysts was increased by optimising the catalyst preparation method. The Pt-Ru/C catalysts were synthesised using Pt(acac)2 and Ru(acac)3 precursors for chemical deposition of the metals. Performance of the catalyst was examined by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry in a methanol-containing electrolyte. TEM, EDS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and XRD were used to physically characterise the catalysts. The parameters investigated were precursor decomposition phase, synthesis temperature and Pt/Ru ratio. Precursor deposition from the liquid phase was more active for methanol electro-oxidation, predominantly due to particle size and degree of alloying achieved during this precursor decomposition phase. Synthesis temperature affected the particle size, active surface area, ruthenium oxidation state and degree of alloying which in turn affected catalyst stability and activity for methanol electro-oxidation. The Pt/Ru ratio greatly affects the performance of the catalyst. The catalyst with the highest activity for methanol electro-oxidation was the catalyst synthesised at 350 °C with a Pt/Ru ratio of 50:50.