We have synthesized a hybrid catalyst with the high Pt utilization and durability, in which the Pt nanoparticles are deposited on the sulfonated carbon nanotubes (SO3H-Ar-CNTs) with conducting proton and electron. Electrochemical performance of the catalyst (Pt/SO3H-Ar-CNTs) is evaluated by the cyclic voltammograms, linear sweep voltammetry and fuel cell tests, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the Pt/SO3H-Ar-CNTs catalyst exhibits good oxygen reduction reaction activity, enhanced durability and excellent Pt utilization compared with the Pt/COOH-CNTs catalyst. The improved performance of Pt/SO3H-Ar-CNTs catalyst is ascribed to the introduction of the sulfonic acid group onto the CNTs surface by the covalent modification method, which ensures Pt NPs locate in triple-phase zones to increase Pt utilization and reduces the corrosion of the SO3H-Ar-CNTs. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.