Well-dispersed Cu/Al2O3 nanocomposite was prepared by a novel chemical reduction method using paraffin as reductant and solvent. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDS), X-ray photo-electron spectra (XPS), and X-ray Auger electron spectroscopy (XAES). TEM images show the Cu/Al2O3 nanocomposite particles are spherical with an average size of 20 nm, and self-assemble into columnar structure. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.