Highly dispersed Pd nanoparticles (NPs) with an average size of 2.7 nm on commercial carbon black (CB, Vulcan XC72) are successfully synthesized by an innovative route without cumbersome heating process and using any surfactant. In view of the significant concerted effects between Pd NPs and electrically conductive CB, the as-prepared Pd/CB catalyst exhibits a ECSA([PdO]) value as high as 126.2 m(2) g(-1), which is almost 2.5 times larger than that of commercial Pd/C, allowing it to show an unexceptionable performance for alcohols electro-oxidation in alkaline medium, such as ultrahigh electro-catalytic activity, super electrical conductivity and excellent long-term stability. This approach is also available in the other materials technology required for the practical application of fuel cells. Copyright (C) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.