In this paper, we examine the influence of two methods of PZC alteration, ion-doping of oxides and oxidation of carbon, on the control of Pt uptake, using both anionic and cationic Pt complexes. The former method was found to be unsuccessful and the latter successful for 'engineering' the impregnation of catalyst support materials. We use the latter approach to suggest a simple, effective way to synthesize highly loaded, highly dispersed Pt/carbon materials that have applications as fuel cell electrocatalysts. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.