MECHANISM OF ELECTROGENERATED LUMINESCENCE OF TERBIUM(III)-(2,6-BIS ,N-BIS(CARBOXYMETHYL)AMINOMETHYL]-4-BENZOYLPHENOL) CHELATE AT AN OXIDE-COVERED ALUMINUM ELECTRODE

Generation of hydrated electrons at an oxide-covered aluminium electro de during its cathodic pulse-polarization in an aqueous electrolyte ma y well be the primary step of the electrogenerated luminescence of aro matic Tb(III) chelates. In the presence of appropriate precursors, hyd rated electrons produce secondary oxidizing radicals, thus resulting i n an energetic electrode/electrolyte interface which initiates the rad iative D-5(4)-->F-7(j) transitions of chelated terbium(III); the aroma tic moiety of a Tb(III) chelate is excited by its consecutive interact ions with hydrated electron and the secondary oxidizing radical follow ed by an intramolecular transfer of this excitation energy to the D-5( 4) level of coordinated terbium(III).