Platinum nanoparticles supported on mesoporous carbon were obtained by an impregnation and reduction method with NaBH4 as the reducing agent. The high specific surface area mesoporous carbon was obtained by carbonization of a resorcinol-formaldehyde polymer with a cationic polyelectrolyte as a soft template. Surface characterization performed by transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction showed a homogeneous distribution and high dispersion of the metal particles on the mesoporous support. The carbon-supported Pt catalyst was employed as cathode catalyst in a direct methanol fuel cell where a 30% increase in power density was obtained when compared to Pt supported on Vulcan carbon, under the same conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.