Dendrimer-encapsulated Pd nanoparticles anchored on carbon nanotubes for electro-catalytic hydrazine oxidation

This study describes a facile method for preparing amine-terminated poly(amidoamine) (G4-NH2)-encapsulated palladium nanocatalysts with carbon nanotubes as a support. The Pd2+/G4-NH2 complexes are synthesized by a template approach in which PdCl42- ions are extracted into the interior of G4-NH2 dendrimers, and then bonded on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) support through dendrimer covalent linkage. Conversion of Pd2+/G4-NH2 into dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles was achieved by the addition of NaBH4. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis spectroscopy confirmed that the size-monodisperse Pd nanoparticles anchored on MWNTs was about 2 nm in diameter. The obtained Pd/G4-NH2/MWNT nanocomposites exhibit high electro-catalytic activity for the hydrazine oxidation by cyclic voltammetry.