Abstract: The presented invention relates to a method of synthesis of carbon-supported platinum group metal or metal alloy nanoparticles, which comprises the following steps: adsorbing on carbon support complexes of a platinum group metal with a urea complexing agent selected from a group comprising urea, urea derivative, a mixture of urea with at least one urea derivative, and a mixture of at least two urea derivatives; and reducing the complexes adsorbed on the carbon support to metal nanoparticles, forming a product of carbon-supported metal nanoparticles. The invention also provides the use of the carbon-supported platinum group metal or metal alloy nanoparticles obtained by the method of the invention as catalyst. The present invention further relates to a method of adsorption of precursors of platinum group metals on the surface of a carbon support and use of complexes of platinum group metals with urea complexing agent for adsorption of platinum group metal precursors on carbon support.