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Plasmon-Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence at the Single-Nanoparticle Level
Ying Wei1, Yuchen Zhang1, Jiahao Pan1
1College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|November 4, 2022
Summary
This study reveals how gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) influence electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Small Au NPs quench ECL, while larger ones enhance it, offering a new tool for electrocatalysis screening.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Electrochemistry
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Electrochemical luminescence (ECL) is a sensitive analytical technique.
- Single-nanoparticle (NP) characterization offers high resolution.
- Understanding nanoparticle-plasmon interactions is crucial for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasmon-enhanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) at the single-nanoparticle (NP) level.
- To explore the effect of gold nanoparticle (Au NP) size and configuration on ECL intensity.
- To establish a high-throughput platform for screening electrocatalytic activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ECL microscopy to study single Au NPs.
- Assembled Au NPs into ordered arrays for sequential characterization.
- Employed Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulations to model plasmonic effects.
Main Results:
- Observed a strong dependence of ECL intensity on Au NP configuration.
- Demonstrated that small Au NPs (<40 nm) quench ECL, while large Au NPs (>80 nm) enhance it via localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR).
- Found that coupling effects between neighboring Au NPs further increase ECL intensity.
Conclusions:
- Plasmon enhancement of ECL is size-dependent for Au NPs.
- Coupling between NPs significantly impacts ECL.
- Plasmon-enhanced ECL microscopy of arrayed single NPs is a reliable tool for single-particle electrocatalytic activity screening.
