A　facile　spontaneous　redox　method　is　developed　to　obtain　uniform　palladium　nanoparticles　(PdNPs)　distributed　on　surfactant-functionalized　multi-walled　carbon　nanotubes　(MWCNTs)　at　room　temperature.　In　this　synthesis,　hexadecyltrimethylammonium　bromide　(CTAB)　was　self-assembled　onto　MWCNTs　to　provide　adsorption　sites　for　PdCl42-　ions.　Interestingly,　PdCl42-　was　spontaneously　reduced　though　a　galvanic　cell　effect　between　PdCl42-　and　MWCNTs.　The　as-prepared　Pd　catalyst　showed　excellent　catalytic　activity　toward　oxidation　of　ethanol　and　glucose　in　an　alkaline　medium.　Inspired　by　this,　a　glucose　enzyme-free　biosensor　was　developed　with　a　wide　linear　range　covering　from　1　mM　to　20　mM　and　a　high　sensitivity　of　11　μA　mM-1　cm-2　(to　1-10　mM)　and　6.3　μA　mM-1　cm-2　(to　11-20　mM).　These　results　indicate　that　the　as-synthesized　Pd　catalyst　could　be　a　great　potential　material　for　improving　performance　of　direct　ethanol　fuel　cells　and　glucose　sensors.　©　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.