Carbon-supported　palladium-tellurium　binary　nanocatalysts　with　different　atomic　ratios　of　Pd/Te　(PdTex/C,　x=0.5,　1,　1.5　and　2)　are　prepared　by　a　fast　microwave　polyol　method.　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS)　analysis　reveal　that　the　intermetallic　phases　of　both　PdTe　and　PdTe2　are　formed　in　the　PdTex/C　catalysts.　The　presence　of　tellurium　effectively　inhibits　the　agglomeration　of　Pd　nanoparticles.　All　catalyst　nanoparticles　are　uniformly　dispersed　on　carbon　support　and　the　average　particle　size　of　PdTe1.5/C　catalyst　is　a　bit　smaller　than　that　of　Pd/C　catalyst.　The　peak　current　density　of　ethanol　oxidation　on　PdTe1.5/C　(190.3mAcm-2)　is　about　2.8　times　higher　than　that　on　Pd/C　(68.5mAcm-2)　in　cyclic　voltammograms　(CV).　Moreover,　the　anti-poisoning　ability　and　durability　of　this　catalyst　are　also　greatly　improved.　The　Te-containing　catalyst　facilitates　the　formation　of　oxygenated　species　obviously　and　weakens　the　adsorption　of　CO-like　species.　The　kinetics　of　ethanol　oxidation　reaction　is　notably　enhanced　on　the　PdTe1.5/C　catalyst.　©　2013　Elsevier　B.V.