B. Factor et al., Surfactant chain length effects on the light emission of tris(2,2 '-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)/tripropylamine electrogenerated chemiluminescence, ANALYT CHEM, 73(19), 2001, pp. 4621-4624
The effects of nonionic surfactant chain length on the properties of tris(2
,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(D) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) ele
ctrochemiluminescence (ECL) have been investigated. The electrochemistry, p
hotophysics, and ECL of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) in the presence of a series of nonio
nic surfactants; are reported (Triton X-100, 114, 165, 405, 305, and 705-70
). These surfactants differ in the number of poly(ethylene oxide) units inc
orporated into the surfactant molecule. The anodic oxidation of Ru(bpy)32produces ECL in the presence of tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) in aqueous surfact
ant solution. Increases in ECL efficiency (greater than or equal to5-fold)
and TPrA oxidation current (greater than or equal to2-fold) have been obser
ved in surfactant media. Slight decreases in ECL intensity are observed as
the chain length of the nonionic surfactant increases. The data supports ad
sorption of sutfactant on the electrode surface, thus facilitating TPrA and
Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) oxidation and leading to higher ECL efficiencies.