A sensitive amperometric ethanol sensor composed of highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles on a vertically aligned nickel-coated silicon microchannel plate (MCP) has been constructed. The morphology of the palladium-modified nickel-coated silicon MCP electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The performance of the Pd/Ni/Si MCP electrode for the electrochemical detection of ethanol was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The electrode with three-dimensional structure shows high-catalytic activity towards the oxidation of ethanol in a 0.10 M KOH solution. At an applied potential of -0.10 V, the Pd/Ni/Si MCP electrode presents a high sensitivity of 0.992 mA mM(-1) cm(-2), and the detection limit is 16.8 mu M. The linear range is up to 60 mM with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.998. The Pd/Ni/Si MCP electrode also possesses excellent electrocatalytic properties, rapid response, and good stability and repeatability. This novel electrode has great potential in the accurate and effective detection of ethanol. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.