A　facile　self-assembly　approach　is　reported　to　prepare　palladium/carbon　nanotubes　(Pd/CNTs)　catalyst　for　the　electro-oxidation　of　ethanol.　In　this　method,　the　Pd-oleate/CNTs　was　decomposed　into　the　Pd/CNTs　at　an　optimal　temperature　of　195　degrees　Cin　air,　in　which　no　inert　gas　is　needed　for　the　thermal　decomposition　process　due　to　the　low　temperature　used　and　the　decomposed　products　are　also　environmental　friendly.　The　prepared　Pd/CNTs　catalyst　has　a　high　metallic　Pd-0　content　and　the　Pd　particles　in　the　catalyst　are　disperse,　uniform-sized　with　an　average　size　of　similar　to　2.1　nm,　and　evenly　distributed　on　the　CNTs.　By　employing　our　strategy,　the　problems　including　the　exfoliation　of　the　metal　particles　from　the　CNTs　and　the　aggregation　of　the　metal　particles　can　be　solved.　Comparing　with　the　commercial　Pd/Cone,　the　prepared　Pd/CNTs　catalyst　exhibits　a　much　higher　electrochemical　activity　and　stability　for　the　electro-oxidation　of　ethanol　in　the　direct　ethanol　fuel　cells.