Five kinds of nano-metal carbon-supported catalysts M/C (M=Pt, Pd, Ni, Ag, Au) were prepared by a chemical reduction method. The crystal structure, surface composition and element valence state were characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively, the morphology of the catalysts was observed by TEM, and the electro-catalytic activity to methanol oxidation was measured by cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the nano-particles with high purity are well dispersed on active black carbon and their sizes are from 3 nm to 11 nm; Pd/C catalyst exhibits high activity to methanol electro-oxidation; Ni/C possesses certain activity to methanol oxidation, but Ag/C and Au/C almost do not have activity. In 1.0 mol·L-1CH3OH+1.0 mol·L-1NaOH, the peak current density of Pd/C to methanol oxidation is 890 mA·mg-1, about 66% of that of Pt/C, and the peak current density of Ni/C is 6.3 mA·mg-1, only 0.46% of that of Pt/C.