Multifunctional solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensing platform based on poly(ethylenimine) capped N-doped...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing sensitive and selective sensing platforms is crucial for detecting various analytes.
• Solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) offers advantages in sensitivity and operational simplicity.
• Existing co-reactants can be improved for enhanced ECL performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel multifunctional solid-state ECL sensing platform.
• To utilize N-doped carbon dots capped with poly(ethylenimine) (NCDs@PEI) as a co-reactant for ruthenium nanosheets (RuNSs).
• To enhance electron transfer and amplify the ECL signal using reduced graphene oxide (rGO).

Main Methods:

• One-step microwave-assisted synthesis of NCDs@PEI.
• Fabrication of the NCDs@PEI-rGO/RuNSs/GCE sensor.
• Electrochemical and ECL characterization of the sensing platform.
• Application of the sensor for dopamine detection and analysis of other compounds (bisphenol A, catechol, hydroquinone).

Main Results:

• The NCDs@PEI co-reactant showed enhanced catalytic activity compared to naked NCDs.
• The integration of rGO significantly improved electron transfer and amplified the ECL signal.
• The developed sensor achieved a 69-fold enhancement in ECL intensity.
• High sensitivity for dopamine detection with a linear range of 0.01-50 μM and a detection limit of 10 nM was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The designed NCDs@PEI-rGO/RuNSs/GCE platform is a highly effective solid-state ECL sensor.
• The platform demonstrates multifunctional capabilities for detecting various environmental and biological analytes.
• This work presents a promising approach for developing advanced ECL sensing technologies.