The carbon supported Au-base electrocatalysts (Au((1-x))Zn(x)/C, 0 <= x < 1) modified by Zn were synthesized by reverse microemulsion method and employed as anode electrocatalysts of direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC). The physical and electrochemical properties were investigated by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry and fuel cell test. The results showed that the morphologies of Au((1-x))Zn(x) nanoparticles all were uniformly spherical no matter what Zn content changed, and the average particle size of Au((1-x))Zn(x) bimetallics varied from 3 to 6 nm. The electrochemical measurements revealed that the Au((1-x))Zn(x)/C electrocatalysts showed no activity toward the NaBH(4) hydrolysis reaction and obviously improved the catalytic activity of borohydride oxidation. Compared with Au/C anode electrocatalyst, the stability of DBFC using the Au(0.65)Zn(0.35)/C as anode electrocatalyst was apparently improved, and the maximum power density of 39.5 mW cm(-2) was obtained at 20 degrees C. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.