PAMAM dendrimers as anchors for the preparation of electrocatalytically active ultrathin metallic films

This paper describes the formation of catalytically active thin films of Pt, Pt/Au, and Pt/Ru on gold substrates stabilized by amine-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. A monolayer of dendrimer is initially self-assembled on the gold substrate, which serves as a template for the growth of catalytically active thin films. As dendrimers contain tens to hundreds of functional groups at the periphery, the aggregate strength of the multidentate interactions with the gold substrate leads to the formation of robust films. The films were found to exhibit high catalytic activity for the oxidation of small hydrocarbons such as methanol. Such films offer versatility and scope for the design of effective electrocatalysts, especially in the context of microfuel cells and "dendrichips"; hence, they could find applications in the fields of sensors, fuel cells, and waste-water treatment.