We have investigated the electroluminescent properties of polyamidoamine dendrimers containing pendant [Ru(bpy)(3)](+2) chromophores. Devices were made using indium tin oxide (ITO) and gold electrodes, and they were compared to devices made from [Ru(bpy)(3)](+2) films. The turn-on time, steady-state current, and electroluminescence efficiency were analyzed in order to provide information about the ionic and electronic carrier mobilities and the degree of self-quenching of luminescence in these materials.