Cathodic aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence sensor based on trinuclear iridium complexes for sensing Cu²⁺...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) metal complexes are superior to aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) materials for sensing applications.
• Cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) using metal complexes is an emerging area of research.
• Developing efficient cathodic AIE ECL emitters is crucial for advancing sensing technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel cathodic AIE ECL emitters based on trinuclear Ir(III) and Ru(II) complexes.
• To develop a highly sensitive and selective ECL sensor for detecting copper ions (Cu2+).
• To establish a strategic approach for designing cathodic AIE ECL emitters and sensing platforms.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of novel trinuclear Ir(III) and Ru(II) complexes using Ir3+, Ru3+ metal sources, and tri-terpyridine/terpyridine ligands.
• Fabrication of ECL sensors utilizing the synthesized Ir(III) complex.
• Electrochemical characterization and application of the sensor for Cu2+ detection in the presence of K2S2O8 co-reactants.

Main Results:

• The synthesized Ir(III) complex demonstrated excellent cathodic AIE ECL performance within a potential range of -1.1 to 0 V.
• The fabricated Ir(III) complex sensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for Cu2+ detection.
• A linear relationship was observed between ECL intensity and the logarithm of Cu2+ concentration (5 x 10^-10 M to 1 x 10^-3 M), with a detection limit of 1.69 x 10^-12 M.

Conclusions:

• The developed Ir(III) complex serves as an effective cathodic AIE ECL emitter for sensitive Cu2+ detection.
• The sensor demonstrated reliable performance in determining Cu2+ in real samples, showing superior recovery rates.
• This study provides a valuable strategy for designing advanced cathodic AIE ECL emitters and sensing platforms for trace metal analysis.