Abstract: The processes of adsorption and oxidation of 1-butanol on Pt electrode and Pt electrodes modified with Sb and S (Pt/Sbad and Pt/Sad) were studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The results demonstrated that the oxidation of 1-butanol depends strongly on the oxidation states of electrode surface Sb adatoms on Pt surface can adsorb oxygen at relatively low potentials, and exhibit catalytic effects for 1-butanol oxidation. In comparison with the case of Pt electrode, the oxidation peak potential of 1-butanol on Pt surface modified with Sb was negatively shifted about 330 mV and the peak current was doubly increased. On a contrary, the oxidation of S adatoms consumes oxygen species of Pt electrode surface. As a consequence, the oxidation of 1-butanol was inhibited by the presence of Sad. The EQCM studies provided quantitative results of surface mass changes during 1-butanol oxidation, and have thrown new light on elucidating different effects of adatoms Sbad and Sad on Pt electrode towards 1-butanol oxidation.