This study examined the local structural properties of Pt nanoparticles on SiO 2 , TiO 2 -SiO 2 , and ZrO 2 -SiO 2 supports to better understand the impact of oxide-support type on the performance of Pt-based catalysts. In situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements were taken for the Pt L 3 -edge in a temperature range from 300 to 700 K in He, H 2 , and O 2 gas environments. The XAFS measurements demonstrated that Pt atoms were highly dispersed on TiO 2 -SiO 2 and ZrO 2 -SiO 2 forming pancake-shaped nanoparticles, whereas Pt atoms formed larger particles of hemispherical shapes on SiO 2 supports. Contrary to the SiO 2 case, the coordination numbers for Pt, Ti, and Zr around Pt atoms on the TiO 2 -SiO 2 and ZrO 2 -SiO 2 supports were nearly constant from 300 to 700 K under the different gas environments.These results are consistent with the improvements in thermal stability of Pt nanoparticles achieved by incorporating TiO 2 or ZrO 2 on the surface of SiO 2 supports. XAFS analysis further indicated that the enhanced dispersion and stability of Pt were a consequence of the strong metal support interaction via PtTi and Pt-Zr bonds. Graphical Abstract From XANES measurements, oxygen coordination numbers of a Pt atom on different supports of (a) SiO 2 , (b) TiO 2 -SiO 2 , and (c) ZrO 2 -SiO 2 were determined. As temperature increases, oxygen coordination numbers gradually decreased in a He gas, whereas it is dramatically decreases in an H 2 gas.