In this study, the polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer-encapsulated metal nanoparticles-modified electrodes were prepared in a two-step electrochemical approach. First, dendrimer molecules were grafted onto carbon surfaces by electrochemical oxidation of the terminal amine groups of PAMAM dendrimer in aqueous solution[1]. Then the dendrimer-grafted electrodes were moved inside a oxygen- and moisture-free glove box and immersed in tributylmethylammonium bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)imide ionic liquid (Bu₃MeN-TFSI IL)[2] containing Pd(II) ions. In the second step, the adsorbed metal ions (Pd(II)) were electrochemically reduced in a neat IL to form nanoparticles which were encapsulated by the PAMAM dendrimers grafted on the electrodes.

The modified electrodes were characterized using atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The stability and activity of the modified electrodes were studied in aqueous solution.