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),　H2　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.　©　2008　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.