The Pd-ZnO/C catalytic material for ethanol oxidation reaction is prepared by microwave heating-glycol reduction method. Pd-ZnO is well polymerized and dispersed on XC72. The results demonstrate that Pd-ZnO/C has better electro catalytic activity and stability for ethanol oxidation reaction than Pd/C at room temperature. ZnO/C shows no catalysis for ethanol oxidation. The oxidation peak potential of Pd-ZnO/C electrode is shifted negatively to 0.21 V. The current density of Pd-ZnO/C electrode is 145 mA cm(-2), while that of the Pd/C electrode is 60 mA cm(-2). Moreover, single cell discharge test shows that discharge voltage of the Pd-ZnO/C electrode reaches to 0.41 V at 30 mA cm(-2). In summary, ZnO as a co-catalyst significantly improves the activity of Pd-ZnO/C catalyst for ethanol oxidation reaction. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.