PdBi/C electrocatalysts (Pd:Bi atomic ratios of 95:05, 90:10,80:20 and 70:30) were prepared by borohydride reduction using Pd(NO3)(2)center dot 2H(2)O and Bi(NO3)(3)center dot 5H(2)O as metal sources and Vulcan XC72 as support. The electrocatalysts were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The activity for the ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium was investigated at room temperature by chronoamperometry and the results were compared with Pt/C and PtBi/C electrocatalysts. PdBi/C (95:05) electrocatalyst showed a significant increase of performance for ethanol electro-oxidation compared to Pd/C and others PdBi/C electrocatalysts. The final current value after holding the cell at -0.4 V versus Ag/AgCl electrode for 30 min in alkaline medium for PdBi/C (95:05) electrocatalyst was about eleven times higher than the current value of the Pt/C electrocatalyst and 1.5 times higher than PtBi/C (50:50). Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.