A novel method of molecular covalently functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube using nitrobenzene group is prepared and used as a promising support material of Pt-based electrocatalysts (denoted as Pt-NB-MWCNT) for methanol oxidation reaction. The physical and chemical characteristics are performed by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. Compared with the un-functionalized Pt-MWCNT catalyst, Pt-NB-MWCNTs show more uniform particle dispersion, smaller particle size, improved activity and durability for methanol oxidation reaction. The nitrobenzene group is demonstrated to promote the electrocatalytic activity of Pt-MWCNT for methanol oxidation significantly. The results represent a novel approach to functionalizeMWCNT in a simple and economic way to prepare efficient electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.