Light emission at electrodes: An electrochemiluminescence demonstration

Abstract

Electrochemiluminescence involves the production of light near an electrode surface by the generation of species that can undergo highly energetic electron transfer reactions. A demonstration is presented that uses Ru(bpy)32+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) as the light-emitting molecule and tri-n-propylamine (C9H21N) as a coreactant (i.e., a species capable of generating a strong reductant upon oxidation). Upon application of a 3-volt potential to a platinum electrode immersed in a Ru(bpy)32+-C9H21N solution, an orange glow, readily visible in a semidarkened room, is produced at the electrode.

Department(s)

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1021/ed078p641

Keywords

second-year undergraduate, demonstrations, tested Demonstrations, electrochemistry

Publication Date

2001

Journal Title

Journal of Chemical Education

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