Highly graphitic carbon nanocoils (GCNC) were synthesized through the catalytic graphitization of carbon microspheres obtained by the hydrothermal carbonization of different saccharides (sucrose, glucose and starch) and were used as a support for Pt nanoparticles. The Pt nanoparticles were deposited by means of a polymer mediated-polyol method. The Pt catalysts were characterized both physically (XRD. TEM, HRTEM and XPS) and electrochemically (electrooxidation of methanol in an acid medium). The electrocatalysts thus prepared show a high dispersion of Pt nanoparticles, with diameters in the 3.0-3.3 nm range and a very narrow particle size distribution. These catalytic systems possess high electroactive Pt surface areas (up to 85 m(2) g(-1) Pt) and they exhibit large catalytic activities towards methanol electrooxidation (up to 201 A g-1 Pt). Moreover, they have a high resistance against oxidation, which is considerably greater than that of the Pt/Vulcan system. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.