Design　of　novel　nano-scale　catalysts　with　high　activity　and　low　cost　for　methanol　oxidation　reaction　is　crucial　for　the　development　of　direct　methanol　fuel　cell.　In　this　study,　MnOx　Pt　and　Pb　were　forced　to　precipitate　successively　on　the　surface　of　carbon　nanotubes　for　fabricating　a　PtPb/MnOx-CNTs　catalyst.　Physical　characterizations　indicated　that　there　existed　a　mass　of　Mn　(IV,　V),　Pb　(II)　and　Pt　(0)　species,　and　partial　alloying　between　Pt　and　Pb　in　this　catalyst.　Methanol　oxidation　reaction　with　this　novel　composite　exhibited　over　3　times　higher　specific　activity　(140.9　mA　cm(-2))　and　somewhat　lower　onset　potential　(-0.1　V　vs.　Hg/Hg2SO4)　than　the　values　on　Pt/CNTs　(44.2　mA　cm(-2)　and　0　V,　respectively).　Fundamental　understanding　in　reaction　mechanisms　enabled　us　to　reveal　the　distinguishing　functions　between　Pb　and　MnOx　in　methanol　oxidation　processes.　The　addition　of　Pb　resulted　in　the　enhanced　intrinsic　activity　towards　electro-oxidation　of　residual　intermediate　species,　while　dehydrogenation　in　methanol　oxidation　processes　was　obviously　improved　by　using　MnOx-CNTs　as　a　support.　Copyright　(C)　2011,　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications,　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.