The　PdSbx/C　(x　=　0,　0.5,　0.1,　0.15　and　0.2)　nanocatalysts　were　synthesized　by　the　microwave　treatment.　The　structure　and　morphology　of　the　as-prepared　catalysts　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　and　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS).　It　is　found　that　the　addition　of　antimony　into　the　Pd/C　catalyst　leads　to　formation　of　PdSb　alloy　and　reduction　in　particle　size.　The　electrochemical　measurements　indicate　that　the　PdSb0.15/C　catalyst　has　high　electrocatalytic　activity　and　excellent　anti-poisoning　ability　towards　ethanol　oxidation　in　alkaline　medium.　The　onset　potential　of　ethanol　oxidation　on　PdSb0.15/C　shifts　in　negative　direction　as　compared　with　Pd/C.　The　mass　activity　of　PdSb0.15/C　for　ethanol　oxidation　reaches　3690　mA　mg-1　Pd,　which　is　ca.　1.7　times　higher　than　that　of　Pd/C.　The　enhanced　performance　of　PdSb0.15/C　is　mainly　ascribed　to　the　bifunctional　mechanism　and　electronic　effect.　©　2014,　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications,　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.