Tuning of catalytic properties for electrooxidation of small organic molecules on Pt-based thin films via controlled thermal treatment

•Thin film catalyst produced by electrochemical deposition of Pt on amorphous substrate.•The huge activation of the Pt-based thin-film catalyst induced by the controlled thermal treatment.•Bi and Ge selective adsorption for revealing the nature of the altered surface structure.•Improved activity without affecting the stability for formic acid and methanol oxidation.