The Pd@Ni-B/C catalysts were prepared by using Ni-B/C with different amounts of Ni-B alloys as supports. The structure, morphology and element valence state of these catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The electro-catalytic performance of these catalysts for formic acid oxidation was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and CO stripping experiments. It was found that an appropriate amount of Ni-B alloys plays an important role in enhancing catalytic activity and resistance to CO poisoning and improving stability of Pd based catalysts, all of which imply that PdONi1.61B0.0199/C is promising for probable applications in direct formic acid fuel cell field. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.