title: Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of luminol on a gold-nanorod-modified gold electrode.
abstract: Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol on a gold-nanorod-modified gold electrode was studied, and five ECL peaks were obtained under conventional cyclic voltammetry in both neutral and alkaline solutions. Among them, four ECL peaks (ECL-1-4) were also observed on a gold-nanosphere-modified gold electrode, but the intensities of these ECL peaks were enhanced about 2-10-fold on a gold-nanorod-modified gold electrode in neutral solution. One new strong ECL peak (ECL-5) was obtained at -0.28 V (vs SCE) on a gold-nanorod-modified gold electrode in both neutral and alkaline solutions and enhanced with an increase in pH. In strong alkaline solutions, ECL-1 and ECL-2 on a gold-nanosphere-modified electrode were much stronger than those on a gold-nanorod-modified gold electrode, while ECL-3-5 appeared to only happen on a gold-nanorod-modified gold electrode. The emitter of all the ECL peaks was identified as 3-aminophthalate. The ECL peaks were found to depend on the scan direction, the electrolytes, the pH, and the presence of O(2) and N(2). The reaction pathways for ECL-4 have been further elucidated, and the mechanism of the new ECL peak (ECL-5) has been proposed. The results indicate that a gold-nanorod-modified gold electrode has a catalytic effect on luminol ECL different from that of a gold-nanosphere-modified gold electrode, revealing that the shape of the metal nanoparticles has an important effect on the luminol ECL behavior. The strong ECL of luminol in neutral solution obtained on a gold-nanorod-modified electrode may be used for the sensitive detection of biologically important compounds in physiological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Cheng-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001965:Bromides / Q000737:chemistry; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D049449:Luminescence; D008165:Luminol / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001965:Bromides; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D008165:Luminol; D006046:Gold; D009584:Nitrogen; C039004:potassium bromide; D010100:Oxygen