Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) have garnered interest lately because formic acid has a higher working potential than other fuels such as methanol and ethanol.  Pd-based nanocatalysts are usually used as the anode material in DFAFCs for their higher activity and lower price than that of Pt. When Pd-based catalysts were combined with graphene oxide substrate, the catalytic performance was even higher due to the interaction between Pd-based catalysts and the graphene. However, most graphene oxide does not anchor Pd-based catalysts well, which is why further surface modification of graphene oxide to enhance the interaction between the two was used.  Since Amine groups are much better at coordinating with Pd atoms, the Graphene Oxide was first Acylated and then decorated with Melamine molecules on the surface. This Amine functionalization allowed the Graphene Oxide to disperse in water without even stirring, and the Pd nanoparticles were quite effective at oxidizing the Formic Acid. However, under closer inspection, it was discovered that the Graphene Oxide had been over functionalized and resulted in aggregation of Pd-nanoparticles which limited the diffusion of formic acid onto the Pd surface. Performance could be improved by optimizing the functionalization and synthesis of the graphene oxide.