Iridium Doped Silica-PEG Nanoparticles: Enabling Electrochemiluminescence of Neutral Complexes in Aqueous Media

We report for the first time the stable etectrochemiluminescence of a completely insoluble neutral Ir(III) complex in aqueous media. The strategy adopted is the encapsulation of emitting dye into silica-PEG nanoparticles. This nanoassembly by limiting water and oxygen quenching and allowing solubilization makes the electrogeneration of the excited state feasible under typical bioassay conditions.