A novel Cu@PdCu/C catalyst with the core shell structure is prepared by the galvanic replacement between Pd2+ ions and Cu particles. It is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDX) and electrochemical measurements. The Cu@PdCu nanoparticles are composed of the Cu core and PdCu alloying shell with a thickness of ca. 0.5 nm. The peak current density of ethanol oxidation on Cu@PdCu/C is 166.0 mA cm(-2), which is 2.78 times higher than that on Pd/C catalyst (59.8 mA cm(-2)). Durability and poisoning tolerance of this catalyst are also greatly improved. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.