Electrogenerated chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer between lucigenin and CdSe quantum dots in the presence of bromide and its sensing application

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of lucignein often suffered from weak signal at positive potential in neutral condition. In the present study, strong anodic ECL was obtained in neutral lucigenin solution at a CdSe quantum dots modified glassy carbon electrode. Electrochemical results suggested that CdSe quantum dots can catalyze the oxidation of lucigenin and bromide, which can generate the anodic ECL. The fluorescence and the ECL spectra revealed that ECL resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) can occur between lucigenin and CdSe quantum dots. The oxidation product of bromide can promote ECL-RET and increase the anodic ECL signal significantly. The mechanisms of the anodic ECL based on the ECL-RET were proposed. Cytochrome C exhibited apparent inhibiting effect on the anodic ECL emission, based on which a sensitive ECL sensor for the detection of cytochrome C was established. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.