In this work, a series of nanostructured tungsten carbide/carbon (WC/C-x) composites are in situ synthesized using a microwave heating method. The composites are used as platinum (Pt) catalyst supports for methanol oxidation in acid media. Their structure, composition and specific surface area are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Raman spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements. Platinum catalysts supported on the WC/C-x composites are synthesized by an improved impregnation method. The electrochemical performance and stability of the catalysts are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). The Pt/WC/C-x catalysts exhibit higher activity and stability than does the Pt/VC (Pt supported on carbon black Vulcan XC-72) catalyst. The results indicate that there is a synergistic effect between Pt and the WC/C-x support, which can promote the electrocatalysis of Pt for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.