Novel electrocatalyst based on non precious metals (Co and Cd) is introduced to be used as anode in the ethanol fuel cells. Cd-doped Cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated in graphite shell have been synthesized using simple sol-gel technique. The introduced electrocatalyst can be prepared from a sol-gel composed of cadmium acetate, cobalt acetate and poly(vinyl alcohol) based on the polycondensation possibility of the acetates. Grinding and calcination in Ar atmosphere of the prepared gel leads to produce Cd-doped Co nanoparticles encapsulated in a thin graphite layer. High current density (70 mA cm(-2)) and considerably low onset potential (similar to 585 mV vs. NHE) were obtained when the synthesized nanoparticles have been exploited as electrocatalyst for ethanol (concentration I M) oxidation in basic media (1 M KOH). Considering that the introduced nanoparticles composed of non precious metals and the obtained electrochemical results are satisfactory, the introduced study might open new avenues to the cobalt-based nanostructures to be used as novel electrocatalysts in the fuel cells applications. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.