This　work　presents　a　general　strategy　to　fabricate　a　new　type　of　ternary　intermetallic　PtPbBi/C　nano-catalyst.　X-ray　diffraction,　transmission　electron　microscope　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　data　demonstrate　that　some　Pb　atoms　are　imbedded　into　Pt　lattice　to　form　PtPb　alloy　particles　in　the　microwave　action.　The　PtPb/C　catalyst　surface　is　further　modified　by　Bi　via　a　spontaneous　and　irreversible　chemisorption　approach.　Ethanol　oxidation　peak　current　on　PtPbBi/C　(217.9　mA　cm-2)　is　about　4.1　times　higher　than　that　on　Pt/C　(53.6　mA　cm-2)　in　cyclic　voltammograms.　Tafel　plots　show　that　both　ethanol　dehydrogenation　and　removal　of　CO-like　species　are　greatly　enhanced　on　the　novel　PtPbBi/C　catalyst.　Constant　potential　and　linear　current　sweep　tests　indicate　that　the　addition　of　Pb　and　Bi　causes　the　formation　of　abundant　oxygenated　species　on　the　catalyst　surface　at　low　potential.　These　oxygenated　species　can　react　with　poisonous　intermediates　formed　during　ethanol　oxidation,　and　help　the　release　of　free　Pt　active　sites　for　further　adsorption　and　electro-oxidation　of　ethanol　molecules.　©　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.