A core-shell Cu@Pd nanowire with enhanced activity and stability for formic acid oxidation (FAO) was prepared by decorating Pd shell on the surface of Cu nanowire. Detailed characterization (XRD, TEM and HAADF-STEM) results confirm that the prepared nanowires are of Cu@Pd core-shell structure with enlarged surface areas. The catalytic activity of Cu@Pd/C (2197.88 mA/mg at 0.257 V) toward FAO is about 4 times higher than that of the commercial Pd/C (547 mA/mg at 0.257 V). The enhanced activity of the catalyst may mainly result from the synergetic effect of Cu and Pd, which was confirmed by density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.