In the present study, the biochar produced by fast pyrolysis at 350 degrees C of untreated and acid treated cellulose are evaluated as supports of Cu-Ru@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (2.9-3.5 nm) for the electro-oxidation of methanol in acid media. Carbon materials and the supported core-shell nanoparticles were characterized by physicochemical and electro-chemical techniques. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to study the activity of the catalysts. The nanocatalyst supported onto the biochar from acid-treated cellulose exhibited high electroactive surface area (38 m(2)/g) and high performance in the methanol electro-oxidation reaction, reaching TON values of 0.151 molec. (sites s)(-1) at 0.5 V. This contribution provides a new approach for the utilization of an inexpensive carbon material precursor as cellulose to design alternative catalytic systems and their emerging applications in electrocatalysis. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.