Abstract Phosphorus-doped ordered mesoporous carbons (POMCs) with different P content are successfully synthesized by hard template method using SBA-15 as hard template, sucrose as carbon precursor and triphenylphosphane as phosphorus precursor. Pt nanoparticles with size of 3.5 ± 0.4 nm are deposited on the framework of POMCs. The doping of P into OMCs facilitates the dispersion of Pt nanoparticles and accelerates the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups. Pt/POMCs nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry studies exhibit that the Pt/POMCs, especially Pt/P 7 OMCs, have larger electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), higher electrocatalytic activity, more negative onset potential and long-time stability for the electrooxidation toward methanol than that of Pt/OMCs, PtRu/XC and commercial Pt/C catalysts. These enhanced performances indicate that Pt/P 7 OMCs catalyst may be an excellent anode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).