Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) supported palladium-phosphorus nanoparticles (Pd-P/MWCNTs) catalyst is synthesized by homogeneous precipitation-reduction reaction method using hypohosphite as reducing agent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirm that some P has entered into the crystal lattice of Pd and thus the Pd-P alloy is formed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal that Pd P nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on MWCNTs and the average particle size of Pd-P/MWCNTs catalyst is very similar to that of Pd/MWCNTs catalyst prepared by using NaBH4 as reducing agent Cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric experiments show that the electrocatalytic activity and long-term operation stability of Pd-P/MWCNTs catalyst are better than that of Pd/MWCNTs catalyst for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media, indicating that the addition of P in Pd nanoparticles can promote the electrocatalytic activity and stability of Pd catalyst for ethanol electrooxidation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.