This　work　presents　a　general　strategy　to　fabricate　a　new　type　of　hierarchically　structured　trimetallic　nano-catalyst.　Cu　nanoparticles　are　partially　displaced　by　Pt　4+　and　then　further　decorated　by　Pb　(II)　species　on　the　carbon　nanotube　surface.　The　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　and　cyclic　voltammograms　data　demonstrate　that　Cu　is　inside　the　particles　while　Pb　(II)　species　are　outside.　The　novel　Pb-PtCu/CNT　catalyst　exhibits　superior　stability　and　CO　poisoning　tolerance　during　potential　cycling.　Methanol　oxidation　peak　current　of　this　novel　catalyst　(94.4　mA　cm　-2)　is　almost　two　times　higher　than　that　of　the　commercial　PtRu/C　(50　mA　cm　-2).　©　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.