A simple, rapid and energy-saving method has been used to synthesize nanostructured tungsten carbide on graphitized carbon (WC/gC) materials. The procedures include the ion exchange of the ion-exchange resin as original precursor with targeting ions and heat treatment by an intermittent microwave heating (IMH) method. The resulting product was loaded by Pt nanoparticles to form a uniformly dispersed nanocomposite (Pt-WC/gC). The samples are characterized by physical and electrochemical methods. The Pt-WC/gC as electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction shows high activity proved by the Pt-mass activity of 207.4 mA mg(Pt)(-1) which is much higher than that of 107.4 mA mg(Pt)(-1), on Pt/C at 0.9 V. The onset potential for methanol oxidation is 100 mV more negative than that on Pt/C electrocatalyst. The synthesis of other types of nanomaterials based on this method is current under way to demonstrate the general suitability. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.