A　PtPb　alloy　catalyst　with　a　uniform　core-shell　structure　was　synthesized　in　a　two-step　rapid　microwave-assisted　polyol　process.　The　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　data　demonstrate　that　the　core　of　this　catalyst　is　a　Pt　particle,　and　the　shell　or　completely　alloyed　nanoparticles　are　composed　of　a　PtPb　alloy　with　an　hcp　structure.　The　average　diameter　of　the　catalyst　is　approximately　5.9　nm.　The　PtPb　alloy　catalyst　exhibits　enhanced　catalytic　activity　and　durability　for　methanol　or　formic　acid　oxidation.　The　anodic　peak　current　densities　for　methanol　oxidation　at　the　950th　cycle　on　PtPb/C,　PtRu/C　(JM)　and　Pt/C　(JM)　catalysts　are　870.6,　596.4　and　472.9　mA　mg-1　Pt,　respectively.　The　formation　of　large　numbers　of　oxides　on　the　PtPb/C　catalyst　surface　can　enhance　the　anti-poisoning　ability　and　catalytic　durability　of　the　catalyst.　©　2011　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.