The　inevitable　corrosion　of　carbon　support　under　operating　condition　of　direct　methanol　fuel　cells　significantly　undermines　the　activity　and　durability　of　Pt　catalyst.　Carbon-free　materials　with　acceptable　electronic　conductivity,　stability,　and　co-functionality　are　promising　alternative　supports.　We　used　poly(vinylpyrrolidone)　as　the　skeleton　to　prepare　porous　ceria　for　carbon-free　support.　The　ceria　has　very　high　concentration　of　oxygen　vacancies,　which　plays　key　roles　in:　i)　narrowing　the　band　gap　and　improving　the　electronic　conductivity;　ii)　improving　the　catalytic　performance.　The　better　methanol　electrooxidation　activity　and　durability　are　achieved　on　the　porous　ceria　supported　Pt　catalyst.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd