In the present investigation, a high loading Pt/C up to 50% (weight ratio) was prepared by a pulse-microwave assisted polyol synthesis method, in which the metal reduction can be accomplished in 2 min. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that the Pt particles were highly dispersed on the support and had a narrow particle distribution with a mean particle size of about 2.7 nm. Based on the electrochemical properties characterized by cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode techniques, it was found that the as-prepared 50% Pt/C exhibited a comparable activity for oxygen reduction reaction with respect to the commercial one. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.