A new strategy for exciting the electrochemiluminescence of luminol by double-static potential

Highlight
• The bi-potentiostatic mode for electrochemiluminescence excitation
• The resonance energy transfer between reactive oxygen species and luminol
• The stronger and constant electrochemiluminescence of luminol

A novel luminol-based bi-potentiostatic electrochemiluminescent (ECL) system has been established. Two potentials were exerted on two working electrodes respectively with a dual-potentiostat. More reactive oxygen species and the oxidative intermediate of luminol were generated in the vicinity of the working electrodes during the ECL process and then stronger and constant ECL emission can be obtained through energy transfer between those active species. After optimizing the experimental conditions, it was demonstrated that the developed ECL system provided great potency for quantified assay.