Platinum nanoparticles were electrodeposited on carbon microfibers from an aqueous electrolyte containing hydrogen hexachloroplatinate by a potential cycling method. Tri-sodium citrate was used in the electrolyte as a complexing agent. The deposited nanoparticles were characterized by electrochemical technique and by scanning electron microscopy. Depending on the deposition parameters, the size of the nanoparticles varied from 10 to 300 nm. The nanoparticle deposited carbon fiber electrode showed electrocatalytic property towards electrooxidation of methanol and phenol. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.