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.     

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.     

Electrochemiluminescence of luminol in dimethyl sulfoxide at a polycrystalline gold electrode

The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of luminol in oxygen-saturated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution at a polycrystalline gold electrode was studied under conventional cyclic voltammetric (CV) conditions. Corresponding to the reduction processes of oxygen, one ECL peak (ECL-1 at −1.40 V versus SCE) with two shoulders (S_1-1 at −0.55 V and S_1-2 at −0.90 V) was observed on the curve of ECL intensity versus potential. Corresponding to the subsequent oxidation processes of oxygen-containing species generated by the reduction of oxygen, one ECL peak (ECL-2 at −0.34 V) with a shoulder (S₂ at −0.67 V) was found. Among them, ECL-2 was strongest; it was 10 times stronger than ECL in pH 13.0 aqueous alkaline solution under the same conditions. These ECL peaks and shoulders were found to depend on the presence of N₂ and O₂, potential scan range, water concentration, supporting electrolyte, and the concentration of luminol. The emitter of both ECL peaks was identified as 3-aminophthalate (AP²⁻) by analyzing the ECL spectra. The origin for these ECL peaks is proposed to be related to the reactions of luminol with various oxygen-containing species such as O₂⁻, H₂O₂, OH⁻ and O₂ electrogenerated by the redox reactions of dissolved oxygen at different potentials. The results indicate that the ECL of luminol was correlated to the redox behavior of oxygen in DMSO. The present work reveals that the solvent plays an important role in the ECL behavior of luminol.     

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.     

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 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.     

Cobalt hydroxide film deposited on glassy carbon electrode for electrocatalytic oxidation of hydroquinone

The electrodeposition of cobalt hydroxide film on glassy carbon electrode was prepared by electrochemical method in an alkaline aqueous solution. The electrochemical behavior of hydroquinone on cobalt hydroxide film electrode has been investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. The results showed that the film electrode has good electrocatalytic ability for the oxidation of hydroquinone to p-quinone. The recovery of hydroquinone from sample ranged from 94.7% to 102.9% and a rectilinear analytical curve for hydroquinone concentration from 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.25 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L was obtained. The detection limit was 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L and the relative standard deviation was 2.63%. Various factors affecting the electrocatalytic activity of cobalt hydroxide film were investigated.     

Direct electrochemiluminescence of CdTe quantum dots based on room temperature ionic liquid film and high sensitivity sensing of gossypol

A new method with high sensitivity was developed to determine gossypol content using CdTe quantum dot (QD) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) with a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. It was found that use of RTIL film on the GC electrode can greatly enhance the ECL intensity of CdTe QDs, and the ECL peak potential and ECL onset potential were both shifted positively. Under optimal conditions, the quenching effect of gossypol on the ECL emission of CdTe QDs was observed, and ECL intensity showed a good linear relationship in the gossypol concentration range of 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ M with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ M. The proposed method was used to detect gossypol in cottonseed oil with satisfactory results. As a result, the introduction of an RTIL-modified electrode can extend the analytical applications of QD ECL systems.     

Enhancement of electrochemiluminesence of lucigenin by ascorbic acid at single-wall carbon nanotube film-modified glassy carbon electrode

The electrochemiluminescent behavior of lucigenin on a single-wall carbon nanotube/DMF film-modified glassy carbon electrode was studied in this paper. Comparing with the bare glassy carbon electrode, the electrochemiluminescent of lucigenin at modified electrode is more stable and without tedious procedure for clean-up the surface of modified electrode. It has been found that ascorbic acid could enhance the electrochemiluminescent intensity of lucigenin greatly at this modified electrode. Based on which, a new sensitive and simple electrochemiluminescent method for determination of ascorbic acid could be developed. The condition for the determination of ascorbic acid was optimized. Under the optimized condition, the enhanced electrochemiluminescent intensity versus ascorbic acid concentration was linear in the range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L with a detection limit of 2.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol/L, and the relative standard derivation for 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L ascorbic acid was 3.8% (n = 8). The possible mechanism was also discussed.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

The ultrasonic electropolymerization of an 5-[o-(4-bromine amyloxy)phenyl]-10,15,20-triphenylporphrin (o-BrPETPP) film electrode and its electrocatalytic properties to dopamine oxidation in aqueous solution

5-[o-(4-Bromine amyloxy)phenyl]-10,15,20-triphenylporphrin (o-BrPETPP) was electropolymerized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and the electrocatalytic properties of the prepared film electrode response to dopamine (DA) oxidation were investigated. A stable o-BrPETPP film was formed on the GCE under ultrasonic irradiation through a potentiodynamic process in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ between −1.1 V and 2.2 V versus a saturated calomel electrode (SCE) at a scan rate of 0.1 V s⁻¹. The film electrode showed high selectivity for DA in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA), and a 6-fold greater sensitivity to DA than that of the bare GCE. In the 0.05 mol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer (pH 6.0), there was a linear relationship between the oxidation current and the concentration of DA solution in the range of 5 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ to 3 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹. The electrode had a detection limit of 6.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹(S/N = 3) when the differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method was used. In addition, the charge transfer rate constant k = 0.0703 cm s⁻¹, the transfer coefficient α = 0.709, the electron number involved in the rate determining step n_α = 0.952, and the diffusion coefficient D_o = 3.54  10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ were determined. The o-BrPETPP film electrode provides high stability, sensitivity, and selectivity for DA oxidation.     

Glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion-Au colloids for clenbuterol electroanalysis

Stable Nafion-Au colloids were immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for detection of β-agonist clenbuterol by electroanalysis. The Au colloids were prepared by a one-step electrodeposition onto GCE, with obvious electrocatalytic activity present. The negatively charged Nafion film was an efficient barrier to negatively charged interfering compounds, resulting in accumulation of positively charged clenbuterol at the Nafion film. The electrochemical characters of the electrode during various modified steps in a redox probe system of K₄[Fe(CN)₆]/K₃[Fe(CN)₆] were confirmed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and AC-impedance. In Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution (pH = 2.0) and the potential range of −0.2 to 1.2 V, the Nafion-Au colloid modified electrode, compared to a bare GCE, exhibits obvious electrocatalytic activity towards the redox of clenbuterol by greatly enhancing the peak current with a linear calibration curve from 8.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L and a detection limit of (1.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L) (R = 0.996). The modified electrode shows high sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility. The recovery for detecting clenbuterol (∼10⁻⁶ mol/L) in human serum is up to 98.19%.     

Electrochemical study on cobalt film modified glassy carbon electrode and its application

A novel electroactive material for ascorbic acid (AA) determination was successfully prepared by plating/potential cycling method. The cobalt film was first deposited on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in CoSO₄ solution by potential cycling, and then a cobalt film on the surface of GCE was activated by potential cycling in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ NaOH. The electrochemical performance of the resulted film (Co/GCE) and factors affecting its electrochemical activity were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. This film electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic activity to the oxidation of AA. This biosensor had a fast response of AA less than 3 s and excellent linear relationships were obtained in the concentration range of 3 × 10⁻⁷ to 1 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 2 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3) under the optimum conditions. Moreover, the selectivity, stability and reproducibility of this biosensor were evaluated with satisfactory results.     

Direct electrochemistry of guanosine on multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified carbon ionic liquid electrode

A multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) was fabricated and used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of guanosine. CILE was prepared by mixing hydrophilic ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIMBF₄), graphite powder and liquid paraffin together. The fabricated MWCNTs/CILE showed great electrocatalytic ability to the oxidation of guanosine and an irreversible oxidation peak appeared at 1.067 V (vs. SCE) with improved peak current. The electrochemical behavior of guanosine on the MWCNTs/CILE was carefully studied by cyclic voltammetry and the electrochemical parameters such as the charge transfer coefficient (α) and the electrode reaction standard rate constant (k_s) were calculated with the result as 0.66 and 2.94 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, respectively. By using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) as the detection method, a linear relationship was obtained between the oxidation peak current and the guanosine concentration in the range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 4.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L with the detection limit as 7.8 × 10⁻⁸ mol/L (3σ). The common coexisting substances showed no interferences to the guanosine detection and the modified electrode showed good ability to distinguish the electrochemical response of guanosine and adenosine.     

An electrochemical biosensor based on Nafion-ionic liquid and a myoglobin-modified carbon paste electrode

An electrochemical biosensor was constructed based on the immobilization of myoglobin (Mb) in a composite film of Nafion and hydrophobic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF₆) for a modified carbon paste electrode (CPE). Direct electrochemistry of Mb in the Nafion-BMIMPF₆/CPE was achieved, confirmed by the appearance of a pair of well-defined redox peaks. The results indicate that Nafion-BMIMPF₆ composite film provided a suitable microenvironment to realize direct electron transfer between Mb and the electrode. The cathodic and anodic peak potentials were located at −0.351 V and −0.263 V (vs. SCE), with the apparent formal potential (Ep) of −0.307 V, which was characteristic of Mb Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couples. The electrochemical behavior of Mb in the composite film was a surface-controlled quasi-reversible electrode process with one electron transfer and one proton transportation when the scan rate was smaller than 200 mV/s. Mb-modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in a linear concentration range from 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L to 1.1 × 10⁻² mol/L and with a detection limit of 1.6 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L (3σ). The proposed method would be valuable for the construction of a third-generation biosensor with cheap reagents and a simple procedure.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of cytochrome c based on chitosan-room temperature ionic liquid-carbon nanotubes composite

A robust and effective composite film combined the benefits of room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), chitosan (Chi) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was prepared. Cytochrome c (Cyt c) was successfully immobilized on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface by entrapping in the composite film. Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of immobilized Cyt c were investigated in detail. A pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible redox peaks of Cyt c was obtained in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS), indicating the Chi-RTIL-MWNTs film showed an obvious promotion for the direct electron transfer between Cyt c and the underlying electrode. The immobilized Cyt c exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H₂O₂. The catalysis current was linear to H₂O₂ concentration in the range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.6 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 8.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) was calculated to be 0.45 ± 0.02 mmol L⁻¹. Moreover, the modified electrode displayed a rapid response (5 s) to H₂O₂, and possessed good stability and reproducibility. Based on the composite film, a third-generation reagentless biosensor could be constructed for the determination of H₂O₂.     

Enhanced solid-state electrogenerated chemiluminescence of Au/CdS nanocomposite and its sensing to H2O2

Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) are good quenchers once they closely contact with luminophore. Here we reported a simple approach to obtain enhanced electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) behavior based on Au/CdS nanocomposite films by adjusting the amount of AuNPs in the nanocomposite. The maximum enhancement factor of about 4 was obtained at an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode in the presence of co-reactant H₂O₂. The mechanism of this enhancement was discussed in detail. The strong ECL emission from Au/CdS nanocomposites film was exploited to determine H₂O₂. The resulting ECL biosensors showed a linear response to the concentration of H₂O₂ ranging from 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 6.6 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 5 nmol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3) and good stability and reproducibility.