In this work, bimetallic NiPd hollow nanoporous (H-NiPd) catalysts are prepared by in-situ deposition of Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) on hollow Ni (H-Ni) microspheres. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal the hollow nanoporous essence of H-NiPd catalysts. Meanwhile, using high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM) and elemental mapping, it is found that tiny dendritic-like NiPd nanocomposites attach on the exterior of microspheres. The content of Pd is easily tailored to constitute H-NiPd catalysts with different Ni/Pd atomic ratios. Further electrochemical evaluation vindicates that the as-prepared H-NiPd catalysts have a good catalytic activity and stability toward ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in alkaline medium. Notably, the peak current density of H-Ni3.1Pd catalyst and the chronoamperometric current density of H-Ni4.6Pd catalyst are 4 and 2 times of Pd/C (JM) catalyst, respectively, which show that H-NiPd catalysts hold great potential in application of alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.