Palladium nickel catalysts supported on carbon blacks containing similar metal contents (25 wt. %) and Pd:Ni atomic ratios (1:1 and 1:2) were synthesized. Carbon supports were chemically treated to create different oxygen and nitrogen groups on surface. X ray patterns revealed a weak alloying between Pd and Ni, whereas crystallite sizes were between 2.1 and 3.2 nm, being consistent with the values detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). CO strippings demonstrated a higher poisoning tolerance of the Pd-Ni catalysts than that observed for a Pd catalyst supported on Vulcan carbon black. The methanol oxidation on Pd-Ni catalysts suggested that presence of Ni increase the activity of the materials, considering that Pd/CB exhibited the lowest methanol oxidation current densities. Nevertheless, no effects associated to the presence of surface functional groups on carbon supports were observed in the performance of this reaction. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.