Electrocatalytic activities of various carbon-supported platinum-chromium alloy electrocatalysts towards oxygen reduction in 1 mol l(-1) H2SO4 and in 1 mol l(-1) H2SO4/1-3 mol l(-1) CH3OH, were investigated by means of rotating disc electrode experiments and in solid polymer electrolyte direct methanol fuel cells. The activity of these electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. It was found that Pt9Cr/C prepared by reduction with NaBH4 exhibits the lowest activity for methanol oxidation and the highest activity for oxygen reduction in the presence of methanol, in comparison to commercial Pt/C, Pt3Cr/C and PtCr/C electrocatalysts.