AbstractPhysical and electrochemical properties of Pd catalysts combined with Ru and Mo on carbon support were investigated. To this end, Pd, Pd_1.3Ru_1.0, Pd_3.2Ru_1.3Mo_1.0 and Pd_1.5Ru_0.8Mo_1.0 were synthesized on Carbon Vulcan XC72 support by the method of thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors and then physically and electrochemically characterized. The highest reaction yields are obtained for Pd_3.2Ru_1.3Mo_1.0/C and Pd_1.5Ru_0.8Mo_1.0/C and, as demonstrated by thermal analysis, they also show the smallest metal/carbon ratio compared the other catalysts. XRD (X-ray Diffraction) and Raman analyses show the presence of PdO and RuO₂ for the Pd/C and the Pd_1.3Ru_1.0/C catalysts, respectively, a fact not observed for the Pd_3.2Ru_1.3 Mo_1.0 /C and the Pd_1.5Ru_0.8Mo_1.0/C catalysts. The catalytic activities were tested for the ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) shows Pd_1.3Ru_1.0/C exhibiting the highest peak of current density, followed by Pd_3.2Ru_1.3Mo_1.0/C, Pd_1.5Ru_0.8Mo_1.0/C and Pd/C. From, chronoamperometry (CA), it is possible to observe the lowest rate of poisoning for the Pd_1.3Ru_1.0/C, followed by Pd_3.2Ru_1.3Mo_1.0/C, Pd_1.5Ru_0.8Mo_1.0/C and Pd/C. These results suggested that catalytic activity of the binary and the ternary catalysts are improved in comparison with Pd/C. The presence of RuO₂ activated the bifunctional mechanism and improved the catalytic activity in the Pd_1.3Ru_1.0/C catalyst. The addition of Mo in the catalysts enhanced the catalytic activity by the intrinsic mechanism, suggesting a synergistic effect between metals. In summary, we suggest that it is possible to synthesize ternary PdRuMo catalysts supported on Carbon Vulcan XC72, resulting in materials with lower poisoning rates and lower costs than Pd/C. Graphic abstract