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.