In the present contribution, hard carbon spherules (HCSs) were synthesized from a deoiled asphaltene and were used as supporting materials for platinum (Pt) electrocatalyts. Pt nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface of HCSs by an impregnation-reduction method. The morphology and microstructure of the as-prepared Pt/HCSs composites were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques. The electrocatalytic properties of the Pt/HCS electrode for methanol oxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and high electrocatalytic activity was observed. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.