Enhanced electrochemiluminescence of CdTe quantum dots with carbon nanotube film and its sensing of methimazole

A novel analytical method was reported based on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) using carbon nanotube (CNT) modified glass carbon (GC) electrode. It was found that the CNT film on the GC electrode could greatly enhance the ECL intensity of CdTe QDs dispersed in aqueous solution, and the ECL peak potential and ECL onset potential both shifted positively. Influences of some factors on the ECL intensity were investigated using CNT modified GC electrode, and a high sensitive method for the determination of methimazole was developed under the optimal conditions. The ECL intensity decreased linearly in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ M for methimazole with the relative coefficient of 0.995, which showed finer sensitivity than that at bare electrode. Thus, CNT modified electrode would have a great merit to expand the application of QD ECL.     

Electrochemiluminescent behavior of luminol on the glassy carbon electrode modified with CoTPP/MWNT composite film

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with cobalt(II) meso-tetraphenylporphrine/multiwall-carbon nanotube (CoTPP/MWNT) was applied to investigate the electrochemiluminescent (ECL) behavior of luminol. The ECL intensity of luminol was found to be increased greatly on this modified electrode. The presence of cobalt(II) meso-tetraphenylporphrine (CoTPP) can catalyze the reduction of oxygen on the electrode surface to produce HOO⁻, which can increase the ECL intensity of luminol. Moreover, MWNT can provide the more effective area of the electrode, and can act as a promoter to enhance the electrochemical reaction. The proposed method enables a detection limit for luminol of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol/L in the neutral solution. Under the optimum condition, the enhanced ECL intensity of luminol by H₂O₂ had a linear relationship with the concentration of H₂O₂ in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 8.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol/L with the detection limit of 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescent behavior of MCLA at an indium-tin-oxide electrode

In this paper, the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of 6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one (MCLA) at an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode in phosphate buffer solution has been investigated when linear sweep voltammetry was applied. The optimum chemical conditions and electrochemical parameters for this ECL system have been investigated in detail. Under the optimum conditions, it was found that the ECL intensity was linear with the concentration of MCLA in the range of 6.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L, and its detection limit for MCLA was 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L. The possible mechanism for ECL of MCLA at the ITO electrode was also discussion. Furthermore, it was found that some sophora flavescens, such as matrine and oxymatrine, might enhance the ECL intensity of MCLA. Therefore, it is possible to develop a new ECL method for determination of matrine and oxymatrine.     

An electrochemiluminescent biosensor for vitamin C based on inhibition of luminol electrochemiluminescence on graphite/poly(methylmethacrylate) composite electrode

A novel graphite/poly(methyl methacrylate) (graphite/PMMA) electrode was prepared in this paper. It was found that the developed polymer graphite paste electrode has some advantages in electrochemistry and electrochemiluminescence (ECL), such as high sensitivity, good reproducibility, quick and wide linear range of response to some biomolecules. The ECL behavior of luminol has been investigated in detail at the graphite/PMMA electrode, and vitamin C was found to be able to inhibit this ECL system. Based on which an inhibited ECL detection method has been developed for determination of vitamin C in this paper. The proposed method exhibited good reproducibility, wide-range linearity, high sensitivity and stability with a detection limit of 8.3 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) and linear response range of 2.5 × 10⁻⁸-1.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation was 2.3% for 5 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ vitamin C (n = 9). The possible mechanism for inhibition of luminol on graphite/PMMA electrode has also been proposed.     

Electrochemical detection of l-cysteine using a boron-doped carbon nanotube-modified electrode

A boron-doped carbon nanotube (BCNT)-modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was constructed for the detection of l-cysteine (L-CySH). The electrochemical behavior of BCNTs in response to l-cysteine oxidation was investigated. The response current of L-CySH oxidation at the BCNT/GC electrode was obviously higher than that at the bare GC electrode or the CNT/GC electrode. This finding may be ascribed to the excellent electrochemical properties of the BCNT/GC electrode. Moreover, on the basis of this finding, a determination of L-CySH at the BCNT/GC electrode was carried out. The effects of pH, scan rate and interferents on the response of L-CySH oxidation were investigated. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the detection response for L-CySH on the BCNT/GC electrode was fast (within 7 s). It was found to be linear from 7.8 × 10⁻⁷ to 2 × 10⁻⁴ M (r = 0.998), with a high sensitivity of 25.3 ± 1.2 nA mM⁻¹ and a low detection limit of 0.26 ± 0.01 μM. The BCNT/GC electrode exhibited high stability and good resistance against interference by other oxidizable amino acids (tryptophan and tyrosine).     

Studies based on the electrochemical response of 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-1H-benzimidazole at chemically modified electrodes with over-oxidized poly-1-naphthylamine

The development of a simple and efficient method to 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-1H-benzimidazole (NB) electrochemical determination using a polymer film coated chemically modified electrode is described. A glassy carbon (GC) electrode was modified employing an electro-polymerized film of 1-naphtylamine (1-NAP) followed by an over-oxidation treatment in 0.2 M sodium hydroxide solution (poly-1-NAPox electrode).The electrochemical behaviour of NB at the poly-1-NAPox electrode was investigated in a mixture of 10% ethanol + 90% buffer solution (pH 2) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The experimental results suggested that the poly-1-NAPox electrode had a good effect on NB electrochemical response because it avoided the electrode surface fouling as a consequence of the adsorption of NB reduction products, which was found when a bare GC electrode was employed as the working electrode. The NB cathodic current was dependent on the polymeric film over-oxidation degree (α).NB could be determined in the range from 2 × 10⁻⁶ to 5 × 10⁻⁵ M. The NB detection and quantification limits were 5 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.7 × 10⁻⁶ M, respectively. The percent relative standard deviation of the peak current to 10-replicated measurement using 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ M NB solution was 1.4%. The method showed to be rapid, simple and with a good sensitivity.     

Fabrication of CeO2 nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode and its application for electrochemical determination of UA and AA simultaneously

A glassy carbon electrode modified with CeO₂ nanoparticles was constructed and was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The resulting CeO₂ nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode (CeO₂ NP/GC electrode) was used to detect uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) simultaneously in mixture. This modified electrode exhibits potent and persistent electron-mediating behavior followed by well-separated oxidation peaks towards UA and AA with activation overpotential. For UA and AA in mixture, one can well separate from the other with a potential difference of 273 mV, which was large enough to allow the determination of one in presence of the other. The DPV peak currents obtained in mixture increased linearly on the UA and AA in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻³ mol/L and 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L, with the detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio was 3) for UA and AA were 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ and 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L, respectively. The proposed method showed excellent selectivity and stability, and the determination of UA and AA simultaneously in serum was satisfactory.     

Cathodic electrochemiluminescence of luminol in aqueous solutions based on C-doped oxide covered titanium electrode

In the present work, a novel sensor for luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL) was constructed on the base of a C-doped titanium oxide amorphous semiconductor electrode. The morphology, structural and electrochemical properties of the electrode was characterized by X-Ray diffraction, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical methods. The ECL behavior of luminol excited by hot electrons injected from C-doped oxide film-covered electrodes in aqueous medium has been investigated in B-R buffer solution (pH = 9) when linear sweep cyclic voltammetry (CV) was applied. Two ECL peaks were observed at −1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, reduction process) and −0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, oxidation process). The possible mechanism was discussed. The C-doped Ti oxide electrode shows excellent properties for sensitive determination of luminol with good reproducibility and stability. The linear response of luminol was in the range of 1 × 10⁻⁸ to 9 × 10⁻⁸ mol/L with the detection limit of 3 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L (S/N = 3). Since luminol is one of the most useful ECL probe, many bioactive compounds which can be labeled by luminol are able to be detected by using the proposed method.     

Preparation of Cerium (III) 12-tungstophosphoric acid/ordered mesoporous carbon composite modified electrode and its electrocatalytic properties

In this work, a novel structured Cerium (III) 12-tungstophosphoric acid (CePW)/ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) composite is synthesized. The characterization of the material by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical characterization shows that the novel CePW/OMC composite has improved properties based on the combination of CePW and OMC properties. CePW/OMC can be used to modify the glassy carbon (GC) electrode and the CePW/OMC/GC modified electrode shows an enhanced electrocatalytic activity. This property can be applied in the determination of some biomolecules. Especially, the detection and determination of the guanine (G) in the presence of adenine (A) is achieved. The catalytic current of G versus its concentration shows a good linearity with two good linear ranges from 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 8.0 × 10⁻⁵ M and from 8.0 × 10⁻⁵ to 1.9 × 10⁻³ M (correlation coefficient = 0.999 and 0.996) with a detection limit of 5.7 × 10⁻⁹ M (S/N = 3). The linear range for adenine is 4.0 × 10⁻⁶-7.0 × 10⁻⁴ M with a detection limit of 7.45 × 10⁻⁸ M. With good stability and reproducibility, the present CePW/OMC/GC modified electrode should be a good model for constructing a novel and promising electrochemical sensing platform for further electrochemical detection of other biomolecules.     

Cathodic electrochemiluminescence behavior of norfloxacin/peroxydisulfate system in purely aqueous solution

A novel cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of the norfloxacin (NFLX)/peroxydisulfate (S₂O₈²⁻) system in purely aqueous solution at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was firstly reported in this paper. The NFLX/S₂O₈²⁻ system could produce a very strong ECL signal under the potential scan from 0 to −1.8 V in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) containing 0.24 mg/mL NFLX and 10 mM S₂O₈²⁻, which was about 350 times higher than that of S₂O₈²⁻ alone, while NFLX did not produce ECL in the absence of S₂O₈²⁻. The effects of pH value, S₂O₈²⁻ and NFLX concentration on the ECL intensity were investigated and the possible mechanism for the ECL behavior of NFLX/S₂O₈²⁻ system was proposed.     

An ECL biosensor for glucose based on carbon-nanotube/Nafion film modified glass carbon electrode

Glucose oxidase was encapsulated in carbon-nanotube/Nafion film modified glass carbon electrode and was used as electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for glucose. The glucose oxidase can be fixed firmly in the Nafion film and carbon nanotubes offer excellent electrocatalytic activity toward luminol and hydrogen peroxide liberated in enzymatic reaction between glucose oxidase and glucose, which would enable sensitive determination of glucose. Under the optimum condition, the linear response range of glucose was found to be 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 8.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L, and the detection limit (defined as the concentration that could be detected at the signal-to-noise ratio of 3) was 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L. The present carbon-nanotube/Nafion biocomposite glucose oxidase ECL biosensor showed excellent properties for sensitive determination for glucose with good reproducibility and stability, and it has been used to determine the glucose concentrations in real serum samples with the satisfactory results.     

Ru(bpy)3-doped silica nanoparticle DNA probe for the electrogenerated chemiluminescence detection of DNA hybridization

A sensitive electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) detection of DNA hybridization, based on tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)-doped silica nanoparticles (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-doped SNPs) as DNA tags, is described. In this protocol, Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-doped SNPs was used for DNA labeling with trimethoxysilylpropydiethylenetriamine(DETA) and glutaraldehyde as linking agents. The Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-doped SNPs labeled DNA probe was hybridized with target DNA immobilized on the surface of polypyrrole (PPy) modified Pt electrode. The hybridization events were evaluated by ECL measurements and only the complementary sequence could form a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) with DNA probe and give strong ECL signals. A three-base mismatch sequence and a non-complementary sequence had almost negligible responses. Due to the large number of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ molecules inside SNPs, the assay allows detection at levels as low as 1.0 × 10⁻¹³ mol l⁻¹ of the target DNA. The intensity of ECL was linearly related to the concentration of the complementary sequence in the range of 2.0 × 10⁻¹³ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹.     

Anodic electrogenerated chemiluminescence of quantum dots: size and stabilizer matter

The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) is generally believed to be independent of particle sizes or the capping agents used. Herein, we demonstrate that CdTe QDs with different sizes and stabilizers evidently exhibit different ECL behavior in aqueous solution. The ECL of CdTe QDs stabilized by 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) displays two waves at potentials of about +1.17 V and +1.74 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. ECL spectra confirm that the ECL of QDs is attributed to their band gap luminescence, in which the peak positions are changed with QD sizes. The ECL mechanism of CdTe QDs involves superoxide radical generation by reduction of dissolved oxygen at lower potential or water splitting at higher potential. Direct evidence for superoxide radicals in this medium was obtained via electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments. In comparison, the 2-mercaptoethylamine (MEA)-capped CdTe QDs did not exhibit any ECL in air-saturated pH 7.4 PBS. Both ESR and X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) experiments revealed that amine groups in MEA-capped QDs were responsible for the absence of ECL. The reaction of an amine group with a superoxide radical leads to the quenching of ECL. The ECL quenching of MPA-capped CdTe QDs was further used to detect melamine. Under the optimum conditions, the inhibited ECL was linear with the logarithm of concentration of melamine within the concentration range of 10(-9) to 10(-5) M and the detection limit was found to be 6.74 × 10(-10) M, which was 100-100?000 times lower than that of the most previous methods.     

Preparation and characterization of thiocyanate-selective electrodes based on new complexes of copper(II) as neutral carriers

The complexes of hydroxycitronellal (o-aminobenzoic acid) copper(II) (Cu(II)-HXAB) and salicylaldehyde (o-aminobenzoic acid) copper(II) (Cu(II)-SHAB) were used as neutral carriers in PVC-based membrane ion-selective electrodes. The electrode based on Cu(II)-HXAB exhibited near-Nernstian potential response to thiocyanate (SCN⁻) in a linear range of 1.0 × 10^− 6 to 1.0 × 10^− 1 M with a detection limit of 8.5 × 10^− 7 M and a slope of − 57.3 mV/decade in 0.01 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 5.0). The electrode exhibited high selectivity to SCN⁻ over other tested anions with an anti-Hofmeister selectivity sequence. The selectivity behavior might be discussed in terms of UV-Vis spectrum and infrared spectrum. The transfer process of thiocyanate across the membrane interface was investigated by making use of the AC impedance technique. The electrode containing Cu(II)-HXAB could be applied to thiocyanate analysis in waste water with satisfactory results.     

Detection of N-methyladenosine in urine samples by electrochemiluminescence using a heated ITO electrode

A sensitive and rapid electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method for the detection of N⁶-Methyladenosine (m6A) in urine samples on a heated indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode is presented. The ECL intensity of Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) dichlororuthenium(II)hexahydrate (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) can be enhanced by the presence of m6A. Experimental results showed that the change of ECL intensities (ΔI) of the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ between before and after addition of m6A was affected by the working electrode surface temperature (T_e); the highest ΔI occurred at 31 °C. Under optimum conditions, the ΔI had a linear relationship with the m6A concentration in the range of 1.9 × 10⁻⁹-3.9 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L and a detection limit of 7.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol/L (S/N = 3) at T_e = 31 °C. The recovery of m6A standards added to urine samples verified the accuracy of the proposed method.     

Fabrication of Fc-SWNTs modified glassy carbon electrode for selective and sensitive determination of dopamine in the presence of AA and UA

The electrochemistry of dopamine (DA) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammograms (DPV) at a glassy carbon electrode modified by the hybridization adducts of Fc-SWNTs. The electro-oxidation of DA could be catalyzed by Fc/Fc⁺ couple as a mediator and had a higher electrochemical response due to the unique carbon surface of carbon nanotubes. The anodic peaks of DA, ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) in their mixture can be well separated by the prepared electrode. Under optimum conditions linear calibration graphs were obtained over the DA concentration range 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.0 × 10⁻⁵ M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998 and a detection limit of 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ M based on the equation C_m = 3s_b1/m. The modified electrode has been successfully applied for the assay of DA in human blood serum. This work provides a simple and easy approach to selectively detect DA in the presence of AA and UA.     

Direct electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c on DNA modified glassy carbon electrode and its application to nitric oxide biosensor

Cytochrome c/DNA modified electrode was achieved by coating calf thymus DNA onto the surface of glassy carbon electrode firstly, then immobilizing cytochrome c on it by multi-cyclic voltammetric method and characterized by the electrochemical impedance. The electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c on DNA modified electrode was explored and showed a quasi-reversible electrochemical redox behavior with a formal potential of 0.045 ± 0.010 V (versus Ag/AgCl) in 0.10 M, pH 5.0, acetate buffer solution. The peak currents were linearly with the scan rate in the range of 20-200 mV/s. Cytochrome c/DNA modified electrode exhibited elegant catalytic activity for the electrochemical reduction of NO. The catalytic current is linear to the nitric oxide concentration in the range of 6.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 8.0 × 10⁻⁶ M and the detection limit was 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ M (three times the ratio of signal to noise, S/N = 3).     

Electrooxidation of sulfide by cobalt pentacyanonitrosylferrate film on glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry

A glassy carbon (GC) electrode was modified with cobalt pentacyanonitrosylferrate (CoPCNF) film. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of the CoPCNF onto the GC (CoPCNF/GC) shows a redox couple (Fe^III/Fe^II) with a standard potential (E^0′) of 580 mV. The current ratio I_pa/I_pc remains almost 1, and a peak separation (ΔE_p) of 106 mV is observed in 0.5 M KNO₃ as the supporting electrolyte. Anodic peak currents were found to be linearly proportional to the scan rate between 10 and 200 mV s⁻¹, indicating an adsorption-controlled process. The redox couple of the CoPCNF film presents an electrocatalytic response to sulfide in aqueous solution. The analytical curve was linear in the concentration range of 7.5 × 10⁻⁵ to 7.7 × 10⁻⁴ M with a detection limit of 4.6 × 10⁻⁵ M for sulfide ions in 0.5 M KNO₃ solution.     

EQCM study of the ECL quenching of the tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)/tris-n-propylamine system at a Au electrode in the presence of chloride ions

Significant effect of chloride ions on the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of the ruthenium(II)tris(2,2′-bipyridine) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺)/tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) system at a Au electrode was reported. At low concentrations (e.g., [Cl⁻] < 5 mM), the ECL was enhanced; at relatively high concentrations, however, the ECL intensity decreased with the increase of the [Cl⁻]. At [Cl⁻] = 90 mM, ∼50% and 100% ECL inhibition was observed for the first and the second ECL wave, respectively. The electrogenerated gold-chloride complexes (AuCl₂⁻ and AuCl₄⁻) which were verified using an electrochemical quartz-crystal microbalance (EQCM) method were found to be responsible for the ECL inhibition. This study suggests that care must be taken when a Au working electrode is used for ECL studies in chloride-containing buffer solutions (widely used in DNA probes) and/or with the commonly used chloride-containing reference electrodes since in these cases the ECL behavior may significantly disagree with that obtained using other electrodes and reaction media.     

Electrochemical determination of bisphenol A at Mg-Al-CO3 layered double hydroxide modified glassy carbon electrode

The electrochemical behavior of bisphenol A (BPA) was investigated on Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and chronocoulometry (CC). The cyclic voltammogram of BPA on the modified electrode exhibited a well defined anodic peak at 0.454 V in 0.1 M pH 8.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The experimental parameters were optimized and the kinetic parameters were investigated. The probable oxidation mechanism was proposed. Under the optimized conditions, the oxidation peak current was proportional to BPA concentration in the range from 1 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.05 × 10⁻⁶ M with the correlation coefficient of 0.9959. The detection limit was 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ M (S/N = 3). The fabricated electrode showed good reproducibility, stability and anti-interference. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine BPA in plastic products and the results were satisfactory.