Electrochemically Sensitized Luminescence from Lanthanides in d-/f-Block Heteronuclear Arrays

A new class of electrochemiluminescent (ECL) system is reported in which a heterobimetallic array is used to facilitate electrochemically initiated lanthanide emission, following energy transfer from an ECL-active donor. Spectroscopic measurements are used to probe the efficiency, rate and mechanism of the energy-transfer process in two bimetallic systems with differing donor energies. Non-optical sensitization of the luminescence from lanthanide ions opens up exciting new possibilities for the development of ECL probes with sharper emission peaks and a greater variety of emission colours.