Elevating sensing capability via dual-atom catalysts boosted luminol cathodic electrochemiluminescence.

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Nanomaterials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are gaining interest for their unique properties in biosensing.
• Enhancing the catalytic performance of SACs is crucial for improving sensitivity and selectivity.
• Functional nanomaterials are key for signal amplification in electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and evaluate Fe-Co-PNC dual-atom catalysts (DACs) for enhanced catalytic efficiency.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of Fe and Co in DACs for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and ECL.
• To develop a sensitive ECL biosensing platform for Trolox detection.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Fe-Co-PNC dual-atom catalysts (DACs) incorporating phosphorus.
• Exploration of synergistic effects using ECL emission and comparative studies with SACs.
• Development of an ECL sensing platform for Trolox detection and performance evaluation.

Main Results:

• Fe-Co-PNC DACs exhibited superior catalytic performance compared to Fe-PNC SACs.
• The ECL sensing platform showed high sensitivity for Trolox detection with a wide linear range (0.1 μM-1.0 mM).
• A low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.03 μM and excellent reproducibility/stability were achieved.

Conclusions:

• Novel Fe-Co-PNC DACs were successfully developed, demonstrating synergistic effects and enhanced catalytic efficiency.
• The DACs offer a new approach for designing advanced catalysts for biosensing applications.
• The study highlights the potential of DACs for sensitive and stable Trolox detection, expanding the scope of SACs in catalysis.