Electrocatalysts, based on carbon-supported cobalt phthalocyanine-platinum (CoPc-Pt/C), were prepared by chemical reduction reaction and heat-treatment. Thermo gravimetric analysis, EDX, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were employed to investigate structural and physical properties of catalysts. The electrochemical behavior of catalysts for methanol electro-oxidation was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. Compared with Pt/C and PtCo/C catalysts, CoPc-Pt/C catalyst heated at 980 degrees C (C980) exhibited the best electrochemical performance for methanol electro-oxidation. C980 accelerated kinetics for methanol oxidation and produces a high methanol oxidation current that is almost twice that of pure platinum. C980 also improved its resistance to methanol poisoning. Hence, it can be concluded that C980 is a good anodic catalyst for DMFC. (c) 2008 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.