Amorphous Ni-P alloy catalysts supported on carbon nanofibers were synthesized via electroless deposition. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and X-ray powder diffraction were used to characterize the catalysts obtained. Liquid-phase nitrobenzene hydrogenation was used as a probe reaction to evaluate the catalytic activity. The results show that the amorphous Ni-P alloy catalysts supported on carbon nanofibers have a unique scalelike structure, which gives the catalysts a large surface area. The prepared catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity. Their catalytic activities for liquid-phase nitrobenzene hydrogenation to aniline can reach more than 99% and remain almost unchanged over five consecutive runs. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.