An electrocatalyst synthesized from non-noble components has been examined for its anodic activity toward hydrogen and toward methanol. The material was synthesized by mechanical alloying of tantalum and nickel, followed by carburization at high temperature. This material shows anodic electrocatalytic activity which is higher for methanol than for hydrogen, an unusual phenomenon. A mechanism for this process is suggested, involving functionalization of the surface carbon atoms and subsequent interaction with the methanol. The relatively poor activity toward hydrogen arises because hydrogen cannot interact with the functionalized carbon surface. (C) 2002 The Electrochemical Society.