Bright dual-color electrochemiluminescence of a structurally determined Pt₁Ag₁₈ nanocluster

Abstract

Metal nanoclusters possess excellent electrochemical, optical, and catalytic properties, but correlating these properties remains challenging, which is the foundation to generate electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Herein, we report for the first time that a structurally determined Pt₁Ag₁₈ nanocluster generates intense ECL and simultaneously enhances the ECL of carbon dots (CDs) via an electrocatalytic effect. Pt₁Ag₁₈ nanocluster show aggregation-induced emission enhancement and aggregation-induced ECL enhancement under light and electrochemical stimulation, respectively. In the presence of tripropylamine (TPrA) as a coreactant, solid Pt₁Ag₁₈ shows unprecedented ECL efficiency, which is more than nine times higher than that of 1 mM Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ with the same TPrA concentration. Potential-resolved ECL spectra reveal two ECL emission bands in the presence of TPrA. The ECL emission centered at 650 nm is assigned to the solid Pt₁Ag₁₈ nanocluster, consistent with the peak wavelength in self-annihilation ECL and photoluminescence of the solid state. The ECL emission centered at 820 nm is assigned to the CDs on the glassy carbon electrode. The electrocatalytic effect of the nanoclusters enhanced the ECL of the CDs by a factor of more than 180 in comparison to that without nanoclusters. Based on the combined optical and electrochemical results, the ECL generation pathways and mechanisms of Pt₁Ag₁₈ and CDs are proposed. These findings are extremely promising for designing multifunctional nanocluster luminophores with strong emissions and developing ratiometric sensing devices.

Keywords

AIECLE / AIEE / electrochemiluminescence / nanocluster / photoluminescence / structure

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