Preparation of cobalt oxide catalysts on stainless steel wire mesh by combination of magnetron sputtering and electrochemical deposition

•Stainless steel meshes were coated with Co3O4 thin films by magnetron sputtering.•Further Co3O4 layer was added by electrochemical deposition and heating.•Supported Co3O4 catalysts highly active in ethanol total oxidation were obtained.•Efficiency of the supported catalysts was comparable with that of pelletized Co3O4.•Co3O4 content in bed of meshes was nearly 50 times lower than in bed of pellets.