Preparation and electrochemiluminescence behaviors of reduced graphene oxide/CdCO3 nanocomposites

Reduced graphene oxide/CdCO3 (RGO/CdCO3) nanocomposites were prepared by a one-pot solvent-assisted thermal reduction method under mild conditions. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the results indicate that the CdCO3 nanoparticles were successfully formed on the RGO sheets during the one-step process. Furthermore, the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties of the RGO/CdCO3 nanocomposites were investigated in aqueous systems, which show that the presence of RGO/CdCO3 film can not only enhance the ECL intensity of peroxydisulfate but can also decrease its onset potential. This novel strategy has been extended to synthesize RGO/metal carbonate nanocomposites for potential applications in ECL analysis.

► RGO/CdCO3 was prepared by a solvent-assisted thermal reduction under mild conditions.
► The GO has been reduced to RGO in the reaction system.
► The RGO/CdCO3 show stable and strong ECL emission with the co-reactant K2S2O8.
► The RGO-CdCO3 can enhance the K2S2O8 ECL intensity, and decrease its onset potential.