Worm-like palladium/carbon (Pd/C) core鈭抯hell nanocomposites have been hydrothermally prepared starting from PdCl2 and 伪-lactose monohydrate (伪-LM) in the presence of polyacrylamide (PAM) at 200 掳C. The thickness of carbonaceous shells varied from 5 to 45 nm with increasing temperature from 140 to 200 掳C. When the dose of PAM or PdCl2 was increased, spherical Pd/C core鈭抯hell nanocomposites were obtained. Time-dependent experiments confirmed that formation of Pd/C core鈭抯hell nanocomposites underwent an entrapment鈭抮eduction鈭抍arbonization process. Such a route has also been extended to synthesize spherical Ag/C core鈭抯hell composites. A cyclic voltammetry (CV) study reveals that the as-prepared Pd/C core鈭抯hell nanocomposites exhibit electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA).