Electrochemiluminescence of Copper(I) Bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)

Abstract

The electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties of Cu[dmp]2+ (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) have been investigated. ECL has been observed for Cu(dmp)2+ in aqueous, nonaqueous, and mixed solvent solutions using tri-n-propylamine as an oxidative-reductive coreactant. The ECL intensity peaks at potential corresponding to oxidation of both the coreactant and Cu(dmp)2+. The peak potential corresponding to maximum ECL emission is ∼500 mV more anodic than corresponding oxidative peak potentials, indicating that the ECL emission may be due to the formation of either the *Cu(dmp)2+ metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited state or an excited-state product of Cu(dmp)2+ oxidation. ECL efficiencies (φecl = photons generated per redox event) are solvent-dependent (φecl (CH3CN) > φecl (50:50 (v/v) CH3CN:H2O) > φecl (H2O)) and correspond fairly well with photoluminescence efficiencies. Increased ECL efficiencies (≥50-fold) are observed in the presence of the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100.

Department(s)

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1021/ac0106750

Keywords

metal to ligand charge transfer, solution chemistry, solvents, oxidation, excited states

Publication Date

2001

Journal Title

Analytical chemistry

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