Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensor based on carbon nantube dispersed in sol-gel-derived titania-Nafion composite films

A highly sensitive and stable tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed based on carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersed in mesoporous composite films of sol-gel titania and perfluorosulfonated ionomer (Nafion). Single-wall (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) can be easily dispersed in the titania-Nafion composite solution. The hydrophobic CNT in the titania-Nafion composite films coated on a glassy carbon electrode certainly increased the amount of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilized in the ECL sensor by adsorption of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ onto CNT surface, the electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrophobic analytes, and the electronic conductivity of the composite films. Therefore, the present ECL sensor based on the CNT-titania-Nafion showed improved ECL sensitivity for tripropylamine (TPA) compared to the ECL sensors based on both titania-Nafion composite films without CNT and pure Nafion films. The present Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ ECL sensor based on the MWCNT-titania--Nafion composite gave a linear response (R² = 0.999) for TPA concentration from 50 nM to 1.0 mM with a remarkable detection limit (S/N = 3) of 10 nM while the ECL sensors based on titania-Nafion composite without MWCNT, pure Nafion films, and MWCNT-Nafion composite gave a detection limit of 0.1 μM, 1 μM, and 50 nM, respectively. The present ECL sensor showed outstanding long-term stability (no signal loss for 4 months).     

Electrochemiluminescence from tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)-graphene-Nafion modified electrode

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-graphene-Nafion composite film was developed. The graphene sheet was produced by chemical conversion of graphite, and was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The introduction of conductive graphene into Nafion not only greatly facilitates the electron transfer of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, but also dramatically improves the long-term stability of the sensor by inhibiting the migration of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ into the electrochemically inactive hydrophobic region of Nafion. The ECL sensor gives a good linear range over 1 × 10⁻⁷ to 1 × 10⁻⁴ M with a detection limit of 50 nM towards the determination of tripropylamine (TPA), comparable to that obtained by Nafion-CNT. The ECL sensor keeps over 80% and 85% activity towards 0.1 mM TPA after being stored in air and in 0.1 M pH 7.5 phosphate buffer solution (PBS) for a month, respectively. The long-term stability of the modified electrode is better than electrodes modified with Nafion, Nafion-silica, Nafion-titania, or sol-gel films containing Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. Furthermore, the ECL sensor was successfully applied to the selective and sensitive determination of oxalate in urine samples.     

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and Ru(bpy)3/nano-Au nano-sphere as efficient matrixes for a novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor

An effective method for immobilization of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ on glassy carbon electrode surface (GCE) is developed for the preparation of a novel electrochemiluminescence sensor. First of all, the positively charged Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ is modified on the surface of negatively charged gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) via the electrostatic interactions to obtain the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/nano-Au nano-sphere (abbreviate as Ru-AuNPs). Subsequently, the large amount of Ru-AuNPs are immobilized on the multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-Nafion homogeneous composite coated GCE by dual interaction: firstly, the Nafion, a kind of typical cation-exchange membrane, can absorb the Ru-AuNPs as the enrichment of cation Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ on the Ru-AuNPs surface; secondly, the employment of carboxylic MWCNTs in the Nafion film can also chemosorb the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ cation on the Ru-AuNPs surface to increase the carrier content. At the same time, the experiment confirms that the enhancement of the ECL intensity on the sensor is attributed to following reasons. One hand, the employment of MWCNTs in the Nafion film enlarged the electro-active surface areas to benefit the contact between the signal probe on the composite film and coreactant used as reinforcing agent. On the other hand, the nano-materials of MWCNTs and nano-Au also improve the conductivity of the assembled film to increase the quantity of excited state of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ in the unit time under the electrochemical condition and finally cause better properties in luminescence. In the experiment, the influence of the coreactant tripropylamine (TPA) on proposed ECL sensor is investigated. The logarithm of ECL intensity is proportional to the logarithm of TPA concentration on the range of 4 × 10⁻¹⁰ M to 2.8 × 10⁻⁶ M and 2.8 × 10⁻⁶ M to 0.71 × 10⁻³ M. After optimizing these conditions, the ECL sensor with TPA as coreactant is employed to detect a kind of alkaloid medicine, Matrine, for evaluating the practical application in the medicine analysis. The present sensor with TPA as coreactant shows the good response to the medicine concentration of the Matrine from 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ M to 6.0 × 10⁻³ M, which is used to detect the Matrine concentration in the Matrine injection.     

Solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor through the electrodeposition of Ru(bpy)3/AuNPs/chitosan composite film onto electrode

Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) has been successfully immobilized onto electrode through the electrodeposition of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/AuNPs/chitosan composite film. In the experiments, chitosan solution was first mixed with Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. Then, during chronopotentiometry experiments in this mixed solution, a porous 3D network structured film containing Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, AuNPs and chitosan has been electrodeposited onto cathode due to the deposition of chitosan when pH value is over its pK_a (6.3). The applied current density is crucial to the film thickness and the amount of the entrapped Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. Additionally, these doping Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ in the composite film maintained their intrinsic electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence activities. Consequently, this Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/AuNPs/chitosan modified electrode has been used in ECL to detect tripropylamine, and the detection limit was 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ M.     

Paper-based solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor using poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) functionalized graphene/nafion composite film

Herein, highly efficient solid-state ECL sensor was introduced for the first time onto the screen printed electrodes of the paper-based chips (PCs) based on the composite film of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) functionalized graphene (PSSG) and Nafion. Attributed to the cooperative characteristics of both PSS and graphene, PSSG ensured both effective Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilization and fast electron transfer of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ in the composite film. The ECL behaviors at the developed sensor were investigated using tripropylamine as a representative analyte and low detection limit (S N⁻¹ = 3) of 5.0 nM was obtained. It also exhibited more excellent reproducibility (relative standard deviations of 0.63% for continuous 45 cycles) and long-term stability (∼80% of its initial ECL intensity could be retained over 3 months). More importantly, assisted by the developed ECL sensor, discrimination of 1.0 nM single-nucleotide mismatch in human urine matrix could be realized on the PCs for the first attempt. Thus, the developed sensor was confirmed with the advantages of highly sensitivity, long-term stability, simplicity, low cost, disposability, high efficiency and potential applicability.     

A novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence detector for capillary electrophoresis based on tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) immobilized in Nafion/PTC-NH2 composite film

A new electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detector for capillary electrophoresis (CE) based on tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) immobilized in Nafion/PTC-NH₂ (an ammonolysis product of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA)) composite film was presented for the first time. The Nafion/PTC-NH₂ composite film could effectively immobilize tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) via ion-exchange and electrostatic interaction. Cyclic voltammetric and ECL behavior of Nafion/PTC-NH₂/Ru composite film was investigated compared to Nafion/Ru composite. The Nafion/PTC-NH₂/Ru composite film exhibited good ECL stability and simple operability. Then the CE with solid-state ECL detector system was successfully used to detect sophora - a quinolizidine type - alkaloids as sophoridine (SR) and matrine (MT). The CE-ECL parameters that affected separation and detection were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range was from 2.5 × 10⁻⁸ to 2 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L for SR, 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L for MT. The detection limit (S/N = 3) was estimated to be 5 × 10⁻⁹ and 10⁻⁹ mol/L for SR and MT, respectively. It was shown that the CE coupling with solid-state ECL detector system exhibited satisfying sensitivity of analysis.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensor based on Ru(bpy)3(2+) and dehydrogenase immobilized in sol-gel/chitosan/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) composite material

A new electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensor was fabricated by immobilizing ECL reagent Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and alcohol dehydrogenase in sol-gel/chitosan/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) organically modified composite material. The component PSS was used to immobilize ECL reagent Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ by ion-exchange, while the addition of chitosan was to prevent the cracking of conventional sol-gel-derived glasses and provide biocompatible microenvironment for alcohol dehydrogenase. Such biosensor combined enzymatic selectivity with the sensitivity of ECL detection for quantification of enzyme substrate and it was much simpler than previous double-layer design. The detection limit was 9.3 × 10⁻⁶ M for alcohol (S/N = 3) with a linear range from 2.79 × 10⁻⁵ to 5.78 × 10⁻² M. With ECL detection, the biosensor exhibited wide linear range, high sensitivity and good stability.     

3D nanostructured Ni(OH)2 microspheres as an efficient immobilization matrix of Ru(bpy)3 for high-performance electrochemiluminescence sensor

The electrochemistry and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of novel three-dimensional nanostructured Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/Ni(OH)₂ microspheres were investigated for the first time. The negatively charged porous Ni(OH)₂ microspheres composed of Ni(OH)₂ nanowires were specifically designed to interact with Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. The large surface area and porous structure of Ni(OH)₂ microspheres enhance loading of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and mass transport of the model analyte, tripropylamine (TPA). Excellent ECL performance of the presented sensor was achieved including good stability and wide linear range from 7.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 3.8 × 10⁻³ M with the detection limit of 2.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ M to TPA.     

Determination of Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Based on Immobilization of Tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl) Ruthenium(II) in Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes/Nafion Composite Membrane

Abstract

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was proposed by immobilizing tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺) in multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/Nafion composite membrane that was formed on glassy carbon electrode surface. The electrochemical and ECL behaviors of the immobilized Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ were investigated. The cyclic votammogram of the modified electrode in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution showed a couple of redox peaks at +1190 and +1060 mV at 100 mV/s. The composite film had a more open structure and a large surface area allowing faster diffusion of Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺. The presence of MWCNTs resulted in the improved ECL sensitivity and longer‐term stability of the modified electrode. The modified electrode showed a linear response to NADH in the concentration range of 1.0×10^?6 to 1.6×10^?5 M with a detection limit of 8.2×10^?7 M.     

Electrochemiluminescence from Ru(bpy)3 immobilized in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate)-poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films

Electrochemical behavior and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) immobilized in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PEDOT/PSS-PVA) composite films via ion-exchange have been investigated with tripropylamine (TPA) as the co-reactant at a glassy carbon electrode. The immobilized Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ performed a surface-controlled electrode reaction. The Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ modified electrode showed a fast ECL response to TPA, and was used for the ECL detection of TPA with high sensitivity. The ECL intensity was linearly related to concentrations of TPA over the range from 0.50 μmol L⁻¹ to 0.80 mmol L⁻¹, and the detection limit was 0.10 μmol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). The as-prepared electrode exhibited good precision and long-term stability for TPA determination.     

A new electrochemiluminescent detection system equipped with an electrically controlled heating cylindrical microelectrode

A new electrochemiluminescent (ECL) detection system equipped with an electrically controlled heating cylindrical microelectrode (HME) was developed in this paper. The cylindrical microelectrode made of platinum wire (25 μm in diameter, 6 mm in long) was used as the working electrode of the ECL detection system, the temperature of the electrode could be controlled electrically. The Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-ECL and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-C₂O₄²⁻-ECL systems were used to evaluate this ECL detection system. The detection limit for oxalate was found to be 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L when T_e (temperature of the HME) was 22 °C, and found to be 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L at 80 °C, which indicates that the detection limit can be improved greatly at higher T_e, based on which, it is possible to establish a more sensitive method for measurement of ECL by using a heated microelectrode.     

Determination of itopride hydrochloride by high-performance liquid chromatography with Ru(bpy)3 electrogenerated chemiluminescence detection

In this work, a stable electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) detector was developed. The detector was prepared by packing cation-exchanged resin particles in a glass tube, followed by inserting Pt wires (working electrode) in this tube and sealing. The leakage of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ can be compensated by adding a small amount of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ into solution phase. Coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography separation, the detector has been used for determination of itopride hydrochloride in human serum. Under the optimal conditions, the ECL intensity has a linear relationship with the concentration of itopride hydrochloride in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ g mL⁻¹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ g mL⁻¹ and the detection limit was 3 × 10⁻⁹ g mL⁻¹ (S/N = 3). The as-prepared ECL detector displayed good sensitivity and stability.     

Determination of carbamates in nature water based on the enhancement of electrochemiluminescent of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) at the multi-wall carbon nanotube-modified electrode

A multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT)/Nafion composite film-modified electrode was developed in this paper, and its chemical and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) behavior of tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) on this electrode has been investigated in detail. It has been also found that some carbamates were able to enhance the ECL intensity of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ greatly at this modified electrode. Based on which, a sensitive and simple method for determination of pirimicarb, methomyl, aldicarb and carbofuran were developed, and the proposed method has been applied to determine the carbamates in the nature water.     

Fabrication of a New Electrochemiluminescent Sensing Interface Based on Zinc Oxide Nanorod

A new electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing interface was established based on the zinc oxide nanorod in this paper. Firstly, the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod was prepared on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode surface by the method of constant current cathodic electrodeposition, on which the Nafion film was then modified, and finally ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) was immobilized at the ZnO nanorod/Nafion composite‐modified electrode. The sensing interface shows well ECL behaviors and perfect stability after being constant temperature treatment at 80 °C. The composite electrode was characterized by EIS, SEM and XRD. The results showed that the good stability maybe related to the water content of Nafion film.     

The role of direct oxalate oxidation in electrogenerated chemiluminescence of poly(4-vinylpyridine)-bound Ru(bpy)2Cl/oxalate system on indium tin oxide electrodes

The electrochemical and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) properties of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes modified with poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP)-bound Ru(bpy)₂Cl⁺ (where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been studied. In a sodium oxalate solution, two irreversible oxidation waves as well as two ECL emission waves were observed during the potential scan in the range 0.4-1.4 V (versus Ag/AgCl/saturated KCl reference). The first ECL wave appeared at ca. 0.8 V, which was caused by the excited-state Ru^2+* generated through a bimolecular redox reaction between electrogenerated Ru³⁺ and the strong reducing agent, C⁻O₂. The latter was formed via a Ru³⁺-mediated oxidation of oxalate. Direct oxidation of oxalate was not involved in the first ECL process. The second ECL wave started at ca. 1.1 V, which was also from the excited-state Ru^2+* generated via the redox reaction between Ru³⁺ and C⁻O₂. However, both direct and Ru³⁺-mediated oxidation of oxalate contributed to the formation of C⁻O₂. The important role of the direct oxidation of oxalate in the ECL mechanism of PVP-bound Ru(bpy)₂Cl⁺/oxalate system was demonstrated. The relative contribution of direct oxidation of oxalate to the observed ECL depended upon the surface concentration of PVP-bound Ru²⁺, the concentration of oxalate and the electrode potential applied.     

Silver(I) ions-enhanced electrochemiluminescence of tris(2,2-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)

In this paper, we demonstrate an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) enhancement of tris(2,2-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) by the addition of silver(I) ions. The maximum enhancement factor of about 5 was obtained on a glassy carbon electrode in the absence of co-reactant. The enhancement of ECL intensity was possibly attributed to the unique catalytic activity of Ag⁺ for reactions between Ru(bpy)₃³⁺ with OH. The higher enhancement was observed in phosphate buffer solutions compared with that from borate buffer solutions. This resulted from the fact that formation of nanoparticles with large surface area in the phosphate buffer solution exhibited high catalytic activity. The amount of Ag⁺, solution pH and working electrode materials played important roles for the ECL enhancement. We also studied the effects of Ag⁺ on Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/tripropylamine and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/C₂O₄²⁻ ECL systems.     

Tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Sensor Based on Sol–Gel‐Derived V2O5/Nafion Composite Films

Mesoporous V₂O₅/Nafion composite films have been used for the immobilization of tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) (Ru(bpy) ) on an electrode surface to yield a solid‐state electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor. The electrochemical and ECL behavior of Ru(bpy) ion‐exchanged into the composite films has been characterized as a function of the amount of Nafion incorporated into the V₂O₅/Nafion composite. The composite film with 80% Nafion content has the largest pore diameter (4.19 nm) and yields the maximum ECL response for tripropylamine (TPA) because of the fast diffusion of analyte into the film with large pores. Due to the enlarged pore size and enhanced conductivity of the V₂O₅/Nafion composite, the present ECL sensor based on the composite films exhibited around 2 orders of magnitude higher ECL response and one order of magnitude lower detection limit for TPA (10 nM) compared to those obtained with the ECL sensors based on other types of sol–gel ceramic/Nafion composite films such as SiO₂/Nafion and TiO₂/Nafion.     

Can clay emit light? Ru(bpy)3-modified clay colloids and their application in the detection of glucose

In this paper, we describe the electrochemiluminescent (ECL) behavior of Ru(bpy)₃³⁺-incorporated clay colloids. Experimental results based on the electrochemical-quartz-crystal-microbalance (EQCM) techniques showed that Ru(bpy)₃³⁺ could be adsorbed by the clay colloids (montmorillonite K10, denoted K10). The resulting clay particles could emit light (λ_em 610 nm) when they were fabricated as thin films sandwiched by two conductive ITO electrodes with opposite biases. These Ru(bpy)₃³⁺-incorporated clay-modified electrodes could also emit light in aqueous oxalate solutions (pH 10) when potentials more positive than 0.9 V vs. SCE were applied. EDTA was an effective promoter for the Ru(bpy)_{3 (clay)}³⁺-oxalate ECL reaction. The resulting ECL showed a remarkable sensitivity to oxygen. A glucose optrode was thus fabricated based on the Ru(bpy)₃³⁺-incorporated K10 colloids and glucose oxidase (GOx). The ECL signals behaved as a function of [glucose], covering a range from 0.1 to 10 mM at pH 10. The detection limits reached a level of 0.1 mM at this pH.     

Detection of thrombin using electrogenerated chemiluminescence based on Ru(bpy)3(2+)-doped silica nanoparticle aptasensor via target protein-induced strand displacement

A sensitive and selective aptasensor using tri(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)-doped silica nanoparticles (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-doped SNPs) as DNA tags for detection of thrombin is developed based on the target protein-induced strand displacement of the DNA probe. For the proposed aptasensor, the aptamer was assembled on the surface of the Au electrode through Au-S binding. The hybridization event between the DNA probe labeled by the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-doped SNPs and the aptamer was evaluated by electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) measurements. Then, the DNA probe was displaced by thrombin and the binding event between the thrombin and the aptamer was monitored by ECL measurements again. The difference of ECL intensity (ΔI_ECL) of the two events could be used to quantify the thrombin. Other proteins, such as bovine serum albumin and bovine hemoglobin, had almost negligible ΔI_ECL. Under the optimal conditions, the ΔI_ECL was linearly related to the concentration of the thrombin in the range of 10 fM to 10 pM and the detection limit was down to 1.0 fM since SNPs containing a large number of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ molecules were labeled on the DNA probe.     

Mechanism study on inorganic oxidants induced inhibition of Ru(bpy)₃²+ electrochemiluminescence and its application for sensitive determination of some inorganic oxidants

Inhibited Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ electrochemiluminescence by inorganic oxidants is investigated. Results showed that a number of inorganic oxidants can quench the ECL of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) system, and the logarithm of the decrease in ECL intensity (ΔI) was proportional to the logarithm of analyte concentrations. Based on which, a sensitive approach for detection of these inorganic oxidants was established, e.g. the log-log plots of ΔI versus the concentration of MnO₄⁻, Cr₂O₇²⁻ and Fe(CN)₆³⁻ are linear in the range of 1 × 10⁻⁷ to 3 × 10⁻⁴ M for MnO₄⁻ and Cr₂O₇²⁻, and 1 × 10⁻⁷ to 1 × 10⁻⁴ M for Fe(CN)₆³⁻, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 8.0 × 10⁻⁸ M, 2 × 10⁻⁸ M, and 1 × 10⁻⁸ M, respectively. A series of experiments such as a comparison of the inhibitory effect of different compounds on Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/TPrA ECL, ECL emission spectra, UV-Vis absorption spectra etc. were investigated in order to discover how these inorganic analytes quench the ECL of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/TPrA system. A mechanism based on consumption of TPrA intermediate (TPrA^·) by inorganic oxidants was proposed.