Role of Pt-pyridinic nitrogen sites in methanol oxidation on Pt/polypyrrole-carbon black Catalyst

► Tartaric acid is employed as both a reductant and a stabilizer for Pt nanoparticles. ► Pt/Ppy-C catalyst Exhibits 60% higher electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation than Pt/C. ► Pt4f binding energy in Pt/Ppy-C is shifted by +0.2 eV as compared with that in Pt/C, while N 1s binding energy in Pt/Ppy-C shifted by −0.5 eV as compared with that in Ppy-C composite. ► The Pt-pyridinic nitrogen sites suppress the posioning CO adsorption on Pt nanoparticles and facilitate the methanol electrocatalytic oxidation.