Abstract: In this study, the combination of activated carbon with task specific ionic liquids has resulted in a unique new generation paste in which the traditional components have been replaced with alternate materials. In this study, palm shell activated carbon modified with trioctylmethylammonium salicylate was used as a novel electrode component for the potentiometric determination of cadmium ions in water samples. The proposed potentiometric sensor has good operating characteristics when used to determine Cd(II), including a relatively high selectivity; a Nernstian response in a working concentration range of 1.0×10-9 to 1.0×10-2 M, with a detection limit of 1×10-10 M and a slope of 30.90 ± 1.0 mV/decade; and a fast response time (~ 10 s). The proposed sensor can also be used for at least two months without considerable changes in its response characteristics. No significant changes in the electrode potential were observed when the pH was varied over the range of 4-9. Additionally, the proposed electrodes have been successfully used for the determination of the cadmium contents of real samples without a significant interaction from other cationic or anionic species.