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.     

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.     

玻碳电极上Ru(bpy)32+的吸附及其电致化学发光的研究

通过电化学循环伏安法和电致化学发光方法, 研究了Ru(bpy)₃²⁺在玻碳电极上的吸附, 研究结果表明, Ru(bpy)₃²⁺的浓度和与玻碳材料接触的时间, 直接影响了Ru(bpy)₃²⁺在玻碳上的吸附. 还考察了吸附的 在玻碳电极上被氧化后脱附的情况.     

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.     

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).     

Determination of melamine in dairy products by an electrochemiluminescent method combined with solid-phase extraction

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) enhancement method combined with solid-phase extraction has been developed for the determination of melamine in dairy products. It was found that melamine in a strong base solution is able to enhance the ECL of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ at glass carbon electrode. The optimum experimental conditions for the determination of trace melamine by ECL, such as scan mode and scan rate of the applied potential, the type of buffer solutions and their pH conditions, were investigated. Under optimized conditions, the enhanced ECL intensity was linearly proportional to the logarithm of melamine concentration in the range of 0.01-1.0 ppb, and the detection limit was 0.003 ppb. The method has been successfully demonstrated to determine melamine in dairy products including liquid milk, yogurt and milk powder samples. The relative standard deviations ranging from 5.3% to 11.2% and the recoveries from 95.2% to 102.4% were acquired by this method. A possible mechanism for the ECL enhancement effect was also proposed.     

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.     

Solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor based on the Nafion/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) composite film

An effective electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on Nafion/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) composite film-modified ITO electrode was developed. The Nafion/PSS/Ru composite film was characterized by atomic force microscopy, UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy and electrochemical experiments. The Nafion/PSS composite film could effectively immobilize tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) via ion-exchange and electrostatic interaction. The ECL behavior of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilized in Nafion/PSS composite film was investigated using tripropylamine (TPA) as an analyte. The detection limit (S/N = 3) for TPA at the Nafion/PSS/Ru composite-modified electrode was estimated to be 3.0 nM, which is 3 orders of magnitude lower than that obtained at the Nafion/Ru modified electrode. The Nafion/PSS/Ru composite film-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode also exhibited good ECL stability. In addition, this kind of immobilization approach was simple, effective, and timesaving.     

[Ru(bpy)3] nanocomposites containing heteropolyacids: Simple preparation and stable solid-state electrochemiluminescence detection application

In order to solidify the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophor tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺) onto the electrode surfaces robustly, the negative charged heteropolyacids (HPAs) moieties were utilized to attract and bond cations [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ via an adsorption method. The compositions and microstructures of the hybrid complexes were characterized by elemental analysis (EDS), spectroscopic techniques (UV-vis, FTIR) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The electrochemical and ECL behaviors of the [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺/[PW₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ hybrid complex contained in the solid film of the nanocomposites formed on the electrode surfaces were also studied. It was found that the corresponding solid membranes exhibited a diffusion-controlled voltammetric feature and excellent electrochemiluminescence behaviors. Hence potential prospects as new electrochemiluminescent materials for application in electroanalytical detection are envisioned.     

Flow injection analysis of gallic acid with inhibited electrochemiluminescence detection

A flow injection (FI)–electrochemiluminescent (ECL) method has been developed for the determination of gallic acid, based on an inhibition effect on the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) ECL system in pH 8.0 phosphate buffer solution. The method is simple and convenient with a determination limit of 9.0×10^–9 mol/L and a dynamic concentration range of 2×10^–8–2×10^–5 mol/L. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.0% for 1.0×10^–6 mol/L gallic acid (n=11). It was successfully applied to the determination of gallic acid in Chinese proprietary medicine—Jianming Yanhou Pian. The inhibition mechanism proposed for the quenching effect of the gallic acid on the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/TPrA ECL system was the interaction of electrogenerated Ru(bpy)₃^2+* and o-benzoquinone derivative at the electrode surface. The ECL emission spectra and UV-visible absorption spectra were applied to confirm the mechanism.     

High electrochemiluminescence intensity of the Ru(bpy)3 2+/oxalate system on a platinum net electrode

A new method for enhancing the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity of the Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺/ oxalate system is presented. When a platinum net was used as a working electrode and a platinum foil as an auxiliary electrode, the ECL intensity of the system was enhanced greatly. In addition, a cathodic peak appeared at 0.18 V (vs. SCE) on a platinum net electrode, and ECL of the system was observed at 0.18 V.     

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.     

Tris (2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) electrogenerated chemiluminescence in analytical science

Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ electrogenerated chemiluminescence (CL) has rapidly gained importance as a sensitive and selective detection method in analytical science. The Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ ECL is observed when Ru(bpy) ₃ ³⁺ reacts with Ru(bpy) ₃ ⁺ and yields an excited state Ru(bpy) ₃ ^2+* . ECL emission can also be obtained when a variety of oxidants and reductants react with the reduced or oxidized forms of Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ . Either the reductant or the oxidant can be treated as an analyte. The Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ ECL is used as a detection method for the determination of oxalate and a variety of amine-containing analytes without derivatization in flowing streams such as flow injection and HPLC. When the ECL format is used as a detector for HPLC, unstable post-column reagent addition can often be eliminated and, the problems of both sample dilution and band broadening can be avoided because the Ru(bpy) ₃ ³⁺ species are generatedin situ in the reaction/observation flow cell. Since NADH is sensitively detected with the Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ ECL, many clinically important analytes can be detected by coupling them to dehydrogenase enzymes that utilize -nicotinamide adenine cofactors to convert NAD⁺ to NADH. Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ -derivatives are used as CL labels for immunoassay and PCR assay with Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ /tripropylamine ECL system. The Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ ECL label can be sensitively determined at subpicomolar concentrations, along with an extremely wide dynamic range of greater than six orders of magnitude. Furthermore, it can eliminate disposal and lifetime problems inherent in radio immunoassays. In this paper, basic principles of the Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ ECL are discussed. In addition, analytical applications of the Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ ECL are illustrated with examples.     

Modulated potential electrogenerated chemiluminescence of luminol and Ru(bpy) 3 2+

Chemiluminescence emission intensity is modulated by modulating the potential of a working electrode which is used to generate a key species in the electrogenerated Chemiluminescence (ECL) reaction. The emission is monitored synchronously using a lock-in amplifier. The reactions used in the characterization are luminol with hydrogen peroxide and tris(2,2-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) (or Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ ) with oxalate. Modulation widths of ± 50 mV yield maximum signals for luminol when centered at 0.45 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and for Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ when centered at 1.05 V. The resulting signal decreases with increasing modulation frequency and shows that luminol/H₂O₂ is a faster ECL system than Ru(bpy) ₃ ²⁺ /oxalate. Working curves for luminol and for oxalate have essentially the same linear range and slope with the modulated potential approach as with a DC electrode potential. This approach provides capability for differentiating the analytical signal from constant background emission or stray light.     

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.     

Effects of Divalent Metal Ions on Electrochemiluminescence Sensor with Ru(bpy)32+ Immobilized in Eastman‐AQ Membrane

Different effects of divalent metal ions on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor with Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilized in Eastman‐AQ membrane were investigated. Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Fe²⁺ can elevate the ECL of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/proline; while metal ions that underwent redox reactions on the electrode such as Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ presented intensive quenching effects on Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ ECL. Also, the quenching effect of Mn²⁺ on the ECL sensor with Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilized in Eastman‐AQ membrane enhanced to about 30‐folds compared with the case that Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ was dissolved in phosphate buffer, and the enhanced quenching effects of Mn²⁺ were studied.     

A bis(2,2′-Bipyridine) (Dipyrido[3, 2-a:2′ 3′-c]Phenazine-N4N5) Ruthenium(II)-Based Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor for Evaluation of DNA Damage

The electrochemiluminescence of bis(2, 2′-bipyridine) (dipyrido[3, 2-a:2′ 3′-c]phenazine-N₄N₅) ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)]²⁺) was used to monitor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) charge transfer with tri-n-propylamine as a coreactant. This system was used to measure damage to DNA induced by perfluorooctanoic acid. Fifteen-base pairs of double-stranded DNA with a thiol group at the 5′ end position were covalently bonded to a gold electrode. An electrochemiluminescence sensor was then constructed by incubating the modified gold electrode in [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)]²⁺ solution for 30 min. For comparison, single-stranded DNA, well-matched double-stranded DNA, and single base-mismatched double-stranded DNA were assembled on the gold surface. The results showed that the electrochemiluminescence behavior of the DNA sensors were unique. The electrochemiluminescence decreased when the [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)]²⁺-DNA ECL sensor was incubated in a perfluorooctanoic acid solution. The damage to DNA caused by perfluorooctanoic acid was monitored using a combination of DNA charge transfer theory and the interaction between DNA and [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)]²⁺. The detection limit for perfluorooctanoic acid was 1 × 10^?12 mol/L. [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)]²⁺ was shown to be a sensitive electrochemiluminescence sensor for the determination of DNA damage.     

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.     

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.     

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.