The　Au@Co-B　nano-particles　are　prepared　by　chemical　reduction　and　used　as　anode　catalyst　in　direct　borohydride　fuel　cells　(DBFCs).　The　physical　and　electrochemical　properties　of　the　catalyst　are　investigated　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　energy-dispersive　X-ray　spectroscopy　(EDX),　and　fuel　cell　tests.　The　physical　characterisation　demonstrates　that　the　crystalline　Au　particles　are　wrapped　by　amorphous　Co-B,　and　the　average　size　of　Au@Co-B　particles　are　about　15　nm.　The　fuel　cell　tests　prove　that　the　kinetics　property　of　Au@Co-B　is　improved　significantly　and　material　cost　reduced　obviously　compared　with　pure　Au　catalyst　for　DBFC.　The　maximum　power　output　of　85　mW　cm(-2)　is　achieved　at　25　degrees　C　for　this　cell　without　using　any　ion　exchange　membranes.　This　power　density　performance　is　also　better　than　some　noble　metal　and　bimetallic　anode　in　DBFCs　which　reported　in　literatures.　And　this　cell　also　has　a　good　durability,　with　no　attenuation　observed　after　80　h　of　operation.　(C)　2016　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.