In　this　study,　a　novel　material,　palladium　nanoparticles-carboxylic　functional　carbon　nanotubes　(PdNPs-CFCNTs),　based　on　PdNPs　supported　on　CFCNTs　was　synthesized　by　a　facile　spontaneous　redox　method.　The　material　reveals　high　electrochemical　activity　and　excellent　catalytic　characteristic　for　alcohol　electrooxidation　on　a　glassy　carbon　electrode　(GCE)　in　an　alkaline　medium.　The　preparation　mechanism　was　studied　by　the　galvanic　cell　effect　between　PdCl42-　and　functional　defect　sites　on　CFCNTs.　Results　from　UV-visible　absorption　spectroscopy　and　electrochemical　impedance　spectroscopy　revealed　that　the　reduction　of　PdCl42-　to　metallic　Pd　was　successfully　achieved.　Morphologies　of　PdNPs　supporting　on　CFCNTs　(PdNPs-CFCNTs)　were　also　characterized　by　transmission　electron　micrograph.　PdNPs-CFCNTs　with　the　best　electrocatalytic　characteristics　were　obtained　under　the　condition　as:　the　weight　ratio　of　Pd　to　CFCNTs　was　kept　at　2:1,　the　temperature　was　kept　at　70　°C　in　the　synthesis,　and　the　scan　rate　of　the　applied　potential　was　selected　at　60　mV　s-1.　The　results　indicate　that　PdNPs-CFCNTs　could　be　a　great　potential　material　in　direct　ethanol　fuel　cells　and　ethanol　sensors.　©　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.