The effect of Y-stabilized ZrO 2 as support on the Pt dispersion and catalytic activity for the total oxidation of n-butane was investigated. From XRD, TEM and CO chemisorption measurements, Pt particles were found to be well dispersed with a size of ca. 10nm over the surface of ZrO 2 and Y-stabilized ZrO 2 , when Pt supported catalysts were calcined at 600°C. Although Pt particles supported on ZrO 2 were significantly sintered by high temperature calcination above 800°C, no aggregation of Pt particles was observed for Pt/Y–ZrO 2 . When the catalyst was calcined at higher temperatures, Pt catalysts supported on Y-stabilized ZrO 2 showed higher activity than Pt/ZrO 2 for the total oxidation of n-butane. The intrinsic activity, expressed in terms of turnover frequency (TOF), increased with the decrease in Pt dispersion, indicating that n-butane oxidation over Pt catalysts supported on Y-stabilized ZrO 2 is a structure sensitive reaction. Y 2 O 3 additive plays a role in improving the thermal stability of Pt particles through the metal–support interaction, while it does not alter the catalytic performance of Pt as catalytic active sites.