Highly dispersed Pd nanoparticles supported on 1,10-phenanthroline-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes for electrooxidation of formic acid

► Phen is used as a functionalization reagent for MWCNTs to prepare a Pd electrocatalyst through a facile process. And the phen-MWCNTs demonstrates to be a good support for the electrocatalyst with smaller particle size and better dispersion. ► Compared with the AO-MWCNTs, the phen-MWCNTs possess a structure of supramolecular л-л stacking, which is able to preserve the integrity and the electronic structure of the MWCNTs. ► The presence of N atoms in phen make the Pd nanoparticles homogeneously anchored onto the phen-MWCNTs, produce some active Me-N sites, and generate a good electrocatalytic activity and a stability for the formic acid oxidation.