The hydrothermal synthesis of a novel Pd electrocatalyst using copper phthalocyanine-3,4',4 '',4'''-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt (TSCuPc) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite as catalyst support for Pd nanoparticles is reported. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical tests. It is found that Pd nanoparticles are uniformly deposited on the surface of TSCuPc-MWCNTs, and their dispersion and electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) are significantly improved. Studies of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry demonstrate that the Pd/TSCuPc-MWCNTs exhibits much higher electrocatalytic activity and stability than the Pd/AO-MWCNTs catalyst for formic acid oxidation. This study implies that the as-prepared Pd/TSCuPc-MWCNTs will be a promising candidate as an anode electrocatalyst in direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC). Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.