Model electrodes consisting of ruthenium oxide nanosheets coated on freshly cleaved highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (RuO 2 nanosheet/HOPG) were prepared to investigate the electrostatic interactions between RuO 2 nanosheets and electrochemically dissolved Pt ions. The RuO 2 nanosheet/HOPG model electrode was dipped into a solution containing dissolved Pt ions generated by potential cycling a Pt working electrode in sulfuric acid electrolyte. Scanning tunneling microscopy revealed preferential adsorption of Pt ions on the nanosheets as island-like deposits, while no such deposits were observed on HOPG. This shows the strong electrostatic interactions between the positively-charged Pt ions and negatively-charged nanosheet. The calculated amount of Pt ions adsorbed was 0.93 × 10 6 atoms μm −2 , which agreed with the theoretical saturated adsorption amount of Pt ion on RuO 2 nanosheet of 0.96 × 10 6 atoms μm −2 . All of the Pt ions could be electrochemically reduced to Pt nanoparticles showing activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction. Platinum supported on carbon (Pt/C) is widely used as a cathode catalyst in polymer electrolyte fuel cells because of its high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The loss of electrocatalytic activity during fuel cell operation is a detrimental factor to the useful lifetime of commercial polymer electrolyte fuel cell systems. Hence, there is a strong demand to improve the durability of electrocatalyst to realize the wide-spread commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Numerous studies have clarified that dissolution, migration and/or sintering of platinum nanoparticles on carbon are vital degradation factors of the cathode catalyst. [1][2][3] Oxides that are stable under acidic and oxidizing conditions have been suggested to enhance the durability of Pt as cathode catalysts. For example, SnO 2 has been proposed as an alternative support to replace carbon to enhance the durability of Pt catalyst due to its resistance to corrosion. 4 TiO 2 added to Pt/C was suggested to anchor platinum particles, preventing agglomeration and coalescence during durability testing. 5,6 Carbon supported Pt covered with a thin layer of SiO 2 has been shown to exhibit high stability during potential cycling in H 2 SO 4 electrolyte. 7,8 The foundation of the increase in durability due to the addition of these oxides is not well understood. In addition, due to the poor conductivity of these oxides, the original properties of Pt/C are often inevitably obstructed, which includes the loss of initial electrochemical surface area (ECSA) and ORR activity with the addition of oxides.Contrary to most other oxide systems, RuO 2 nanostructures possess excellent electronic conductivity and electrochemical stability, making them an ideal additive that would not obstruct electrode kinetics. Indeed, we and others have found that the combination of RuO 2 nanostructures and Pt nanoparticles can enhance ORR properties. For example, incorporation of carbon-supported RuO 2 (RuO 2 /C) to Pt was found to a...