the invention refers to a fuel cell electrode for oxidation preferably methanol or methanol reformate in a fuel cell with acid electrolytes . the electrode material comprises of a ) carbons modified by the chemisorption or covalent attachment of metallocomplexes , over which a noble metal catalyst such as platinum is deposited , b ) carbon - noble metal systems mixed with metallocomplexes , and c ) mixtures of noble metal blacks and metallocomplexes . an improvement of 100 - 200 mv is seen over controls using platinum alone in full tests using methanol and oxygen or air . the advantages of using the disclosed promoters is the use of low loaded electrodes rather than pure noble metal or alloy blacks .