The ethylene glycol and 2-propanol electrooxidation reaction was studied on carbon dispersed ordered intermetallic PtPb nanocatalysts in KOH solution. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize ordered intermetallic PtPb/C catalysts. The electrochemical behaviors for the ethylene glycol and 2-propanol electrooxidation reaction were measured in a thin film electrode by cyclic voltammetry, Tafel curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that in contrast with PtRu/C and Pt/C catalyst, ordered intermetallic PtPb/C had better electroactivity, and kinetic mechanism of PtPb/C is complex. Although the activity of electrocatalysts depends on many factors, such as modification of geometric and electronic structure by Pt-Pb interaction, crystalline size and so on. But the key factor for each electrooxidation reaction was different. For ethylene glycol electrooxidation, the effect of formation and desorption of poisonous species on activity of catalyst was very significant. For 2-propanol electrooxidation, the modification of geometric and electronic structures may be play a decisive role in the enhance activity of electrocatalyst. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.