Pt3Te/C nanoparticles supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon were prepared within a few minutes under different reaction conditions by using a microwave-polyol method. Their physical and electrochemical characterization were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), H-2 adsorption-desorption, ethanol oxidation and CO stripping. TEM shows that the Pt3Te/C (pH 3) catalyst has uniform nanoparticles and is well dispersed with average particle size of about 2.8 nm. Electrochemical results show that the electrochemical activity Of Pt3Te/C catalysts synthesized at different pH values are in the order of pH 3 > pH 7 > pH 9 > pH 13. The Pt3Te/C catalyst (pH 3) is also better than the Pt3Te/C catalyst synthesized by formic acid as reductant. From a practical point of view, the microwave-polyol method at the pH value of 3 Could be an appropriate method for synthesizing nanocatalysts. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.