Catalytic electrogenerated chemiluminescence and nitrate reduction at CdS nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode

Electrochemical and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) properties of a glassy carbon electrode modified with CdS nanotubes (CdS-GCE) are investigated in neutral media. The cyclic voltammogram (CV) shows two cathodic peaks (P(C1) and P(C2)) at -0.76 and -0.97 V and an anodic peak (P(A)) at -0.8 V, while two ECL peaks around -0.76 V are observed. Similar mechanisms of both ECLs are supposed and possibly related to the capture of an electron at a surface trap, that is, the surface sulfide vacancy (V(S)(2+)) of CdS nanotubes and its electrocatalytic reduction to H(2)O(2) generated from the dissolved oxygen. P(C2) and P(A) are ascribed to the two-electron redox at V(S)(2+). Moreover, electrocatalysis to nitrate reduction is also found at P(C2), with a good linear relationship between nitrate concentration and electrocatalytic peak current in CV.