In　this　study,　hydrothermal　carbonization　(HTC)　was　applied　for　surface　functionalization　of　carbon　nanotubes　(CNTs)　in　the　presence　of　glucose　and　urea.　The　HTC　process　allowed　the　deposition　of　thin　nitrogen-doped　carbon　layers　on　the　surface　of　the　CNTs.　By　controlling　the　ratio　of　glucose　to　urea,　nitrogen　contents　of　up　to　1.7　wt%　were　achieved.　The　nitrogen-doped　carbon　nanotube-supported　Pd　catalysts　exhibited　superior　electrochemical　activity　for　ethanol　oxidation　relative　to　the　pristine　CNTs.　Importantly,　a　1.5-fold　increase　in　the　specific　activity　was　observed　for　the　Pd/HTC-N1.67%CNTs　relative　to　the　catalyst　without　nitrogen　doping　(Pd/HTC-CNTs).　Further　experiments　indicated　that　the　introduction　of　nitrogen　species　on　the　surface　of　the　CNTs　improved　the　Pd(0)　loading　and　increased　the　binding　energy.　©　The　Author(s)　2017.