Well-dispersed Pd nanoparticles were prepared on the surface of vanadium oxide nanotubes (VOx-NTs) through a simple reductive process. The morphology and structure of the resulting Pd/VOx-NTs composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the results showed Pd nanoparticles were well dispersed with the size distribution from 7 to 13 nm. The electrocatalytic properties of Pd/VOx-NTs composites for methanol oxidation were investigated on the corresponding modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode in alkaline solution. The results indicated the prepared Pd/VOx-NTs composites had an excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.