Amorphous palladium nanoparticles functionalized helical carbon nanofibers (ApPd-HCNFs) were synthesized using a phase-transfer method. Palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NP) were first prepared using n-dodecyl sulfide as reducing agent and stabilizing ligands in ethanol. The Pd-NPs were then modified with benzyl mercaptan and transferred into a toluene solution with HCNFs which were decorated with amorphous palladium. The materials were characterized with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry showing that amorphous palladium nanoparticles were uniformly anchored at the HCNFs surface and that the ApPd-HCNFs exhibit high electrocatalytic activity towards hydrazine oxidation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.