Pt　shows　excellent　catalytic　activity　and　acid　stability　towards　the　methanol　oxidation　reaction　(MOR)　and　oxygen　reduction　reaction　(ORR),　but　suffers　from　deactivation　due　to　the　weak　interaction　with　the　carbon　support　and　the　oxidation　of　carbon　under　operation.　To　solve　the　problem,　herein,　silica　nanospheres　were　used　to　load　PtCu　nanoparticles　as　the　carbon-free　catalyst　for　the　MOR　and　ORR.　It　is　found　that　the　heat　treatment　is　crucial　to　regulate　the　metal-support　interaction　and　enhance　the　catalytic　performance.　The　PtCu/SiO2　catalyst　after　heat　treatment　exhibits　a　specific　activity　(SA)　nearly　7　times　the　value　of　Pt/C　toward　the　MOR,　and　much　better　durability.　The　MOR　mass　activity　of　heat-treated　PtCu/SiO2　is　over　twice　the　value　of　the　untreated　one.　The　electron　transfer　promoted　by　heat　treatment　leads　to　an　upshift　of　the　d-band　center　of　Pt,　resulting　in　the　increase　of　the　absorption　rate　of　methanol　and　the　intermediates.　©　2023　RSC.