Iron/iron carbide-inserted carbon nanotube/graphite composite (Fe-C) was prepared by pyrolyzing a mixture of melamine and iron (III) chloride to form a support for high loading of Pt nanoparticles as a direct ethanol fuel cell anode catalyst. The obtained Fe-C was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Fe-C surface characteristics supported a high (40 wt%) loading of Pt nanoparticles with uniform dispersion and small particle size. Compared to Vulcan carbon-supported Pt (40 wt%), Fe-C-supported Pt exhibited enhanced catalytic activity for CO and ethanol oxidation, and high stability due to the effect of the Fe-C support material. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.