In this work, the preparation of the palladium nanoparticles with carbon nanofibers (Pd NPs/CNFs) catalyst for the Suzuki reaction was described. In the process, palladium nanoparticles were formed in the reaction of palladium chloride and glucose. The Pd NPs/CNFs complex catalyst was prepared in subsequent calcination processes, a series of characterization revealed that the Pd NPs were well-dispersed on the surfaces of the carbon nanofibers or embedded in the carbon nanofibers. This catalyst showed high catalytic activity for the Suzuki reaction of aryl halide and aryl boronic acid in the ethanol/water (v/v = 4/3) solution, and the catalyst still had good stability after 10 cycles. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.