Gold-palladium　nanoparticles　(AuPd　NPs)　were　prepared　on　an　indium　tin　oxide　(ITO)　surface　by　potentiostatic　electrodeposition　from　a　mixture　of　two　metal　salts.　The　bulk　compositions　of　the　prepared　AuPd　NPs　were　studied　by　means　of　energy-dispersive　X-ray　analysis　(EDX)　and　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD).　The　electrochemical　behavior　of　the　AuPd　NPs　in　the　sulfuric　acid　showed　that　the　atomic　ratio　between　Au　and　Pd　could　be　adjusted　by　the　composition　of　electrolyte　and　the　applied　potential.　Field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FE-SEM)　images　of　the　electrodeposits　show　that　the　morphology　of　the　AuPd　NPs　was　affected　by　the　electrochemical　deposition　potential　and　deposition　period.　In　addition,　the　AuPd　NPs　displayed　good　electro-catalytic　activity　for　ethanol　electro-oxidation　in　alkaline　solution.　(c)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.