This　work　presents　fabrication　of　a　novel　ternary　PdCuPb/C　nanocatalyst　via　reducing　Cu2+　and　Pb2+　ions　on　carbon　surface　followed　by　Pd2+　ion　substitution.　X-ray　power　diffraction,　transmission　electron　microscope,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　cyclic　voltammogram,　constant　potential　and　linear　current　sweep　tests　were　used　to　characterize　the　catalyst.　More　Cu　relative　to　Pb　was　substituted　by　Pd2+　ions　to　form　the　PdCuPb/C　catalyst.　The　three　metals　were　uniformly　dispersed　on　carbon　surface.　The　PdCuPb/C　catalyst　can　produce　abundant　oxygenated　species　on　its　surface　for　oxidative　removal　of　poisonous　intermediates　at　a　low　potential.　Owing　to　the　promoting　effects　of　the　factors　above,　the　PdCuPb/C　nanocatalyst　exhibited　excellent　activity　for　ethanol　electrooxidation　in　alkaline　medium.　The　catalytic　stability　and　anti-poisoning　ability　were　also　greatly　improved.　©　2013,　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications,　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.