Modified carbon is fabricated by applying phenanthroline as nitrogen source and used as support (PMC) to immobilize Pd nanoparticles. Because the nitrogen-doping not only changes physicochemical and electronic properties of carbon but also serves as basic or coordination sites to stabilize and produce additional electronic activation for Pd, the Pd/PMC exhibits excellent electrochemcial performance for ethylene glycol oxidation. Compared to conventional Pd/C catalyst, the Pd/PMC catalyst has a larger electrochemically active surface area, 50mV more negative onset potential, 1.77 times oxidation current and superior stability. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.