title: [Ru(dpp)(3)][(4-Clph)(4)B](2) nanoislands directly assembled on an ITO electrode surface and its electrogenerated chemiluminescence.
abstract: In this work, solid-state tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) ditetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate ([Ru(dpp)(3)][(4-Clph)(4)B](2)) nanoislands are assembled spontaneously and simultaneously on an indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) glass electrode surface via a facile dewetting procedure. The fabrication process is very simple and also amenable to mass production. The as-prepared ruthenium complex nanoislands exhibit useful properties. The electrode is more electrochemically active and can produce strong, stable, reproducible solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signals using oxalate as the coreactant. The self-assembled nanoislands exhibit semiconductor-like broad, red-shift ECL spectrum. More importantly, they extend the application of the ruthenium complex ECL system from the usual alkaline to acidic conditions. The pH turn-off behavior of the ECL is observed for the first time and can serve as an ultrasensitive pH sensor around physiological pH 7.0. The solid-state [Ru(dpp)(3)][(4-Clph)(4)B](2) ECL signal is efficiently inhibited by phenol even at a very low concentration (i.e., 20 nM), thus providing the potential for the determination of phenolic compounds in practical applications.
authors.affiliation: Colleges of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianfei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Martin M F
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007204:Indium / Q000737:chemistry*; D049449:Luminescence; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010636:Phenols; D017971:Tin Compounds; D007204:Indium; D012428:Ruthenium; C045358:stannic oxide