Polyacrylonitrile polymer nanofibers were prepared using an electrospinner. These nanofibers were subjected to stabilization and carbonization processes. The electrospun carbon nanofibers (e-CNF) were functionalized using sulfuric acid and nitric acid under three different refluxing periods (i.e., 1f, 3f, and 5f) to optimize the functionalization level. The thermal stability of the obtained carbon supports was characterized by TGA. The Pt loaded carbon supports (20 wt%) for the three functionalized (1fe, 3fe, and 5fe-CNF) samples were prepared using chloroplatinic acid with ethylene glycol as the reducing agent. The dispersion of platinum on e-CNF and the size of Pt nanoparticles were characterized by HRSEM and HRTEM and the crystalline nature was confirmed by XRD. The surface area and pore size distribution were calculated from Brunner Emmett Teller method. The performance of five different samples such as Pt/C, Pt/1fe, 3fe, 5fe-CNF and e-CNF as electrodes and laboratory prepared hydrocarbon based sulfonated poly ether ether ketone (SPEEK) as electrolyte were studied in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and the results were compared with commercially available Pt/C catalyst and Nafion-117 membrane. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.