Highly Efficient Wavelength-Resolved Electrochemiluminescence of Carbon Nitride Films for Ultrasensitive Multiplex MicroRNA Detection

The development of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitters of different colors with high ECL efficiency (0ECL) is appealing yet challenging for ultrasensitive multiplexed bioassays. Herein, we report the synthesis of highly efficient polymeric carbon nitride (CN) films with fine-tuned ECL emission from blue to green (410, 450, 470, and 525 nm) using the precursor crystallization method. More importantly, naked eye observable and significantly enhanced ECL emission was achieved, and the cathodic 0ECL values were ca. 112, 394, 353, and 251 times those of the aqueous Ru(bpy)3Cl2/K2S2O8 reference. Mechanism studies showed that the density of surface-trapped electrons, the associated nonradiative decay pathways, and electron-hole recombination kinetics were crucial factors for the high 0ECL of CN. Based on high 0ECL and different colors of ECL emission, the wavelength-resolved multiplexing ECL biosensor was constructed to simultaneously detect miRNA-21 and miRNA-141 with superior low detection limits of 0.13 fM and 25.17 aM, respectively. This work provides a facile method to synthesize wavelength-resolved ECL emitters based on metal-free CN polymers with high 0ECL for multiplexed bioassays.

Automated summary

We synthesized highly efficient polymeric carbon nitride (CN) films with fine-tuned electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emission from blue to green. The naked eye observable emission was significantly enhanced, and the cathodic ECL efficiency was greatly improved compared to the reference. The mechanism studies revealed crucial factors for the high ECL efficiency of CN. Based on the high ECL efficiency and different colors of ECL emission, a multiplexed ECL biosensor was constructed to detect miRNA-21 and miRNA-141 simultaneously with low detection limits.