Various mesoporous Nb-doped titania materials were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and examined as catalyst support for PdAg alloy particles for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell (ADEFC). X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) were used to investigate the properties of the supports and catalysts. 700 degrees C was found as the optimal activation temperature for Nb-doped TiO2 due to the high electronic conductivity achievement and mesoporosity conservation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that NbxTi1-xO2 had a structure of mixed anatase and rutile phases. PdAg/NbxTi1-xO2 exhibited excellent performance for the electrooxidation of ethanol and higher durability in alkaline solution compared with PdAg/C and PdAg/commercial TiO2. The results open a new way to develop durable and effective electrocatalysts for ADEFC. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.