Enhanced electrochemiluminescence of luminol-O2 system at gold–hydrophobic ionic liquid|water interface

A hydrophobic thiol-functionalized ionic liquid (IL) was synthesized and immobilized tightly on a gold electrode surface via Au–S bond to construct a stable Au–IL|water interface. At the Au–IL|water interface, the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol-O2 system was investigated. The ECL intensity of luminol-O2 system at the Au–IL|water interface was much larger and more stable than that at Au|water interface. The enhanced ECL mechanism at the Au–IL|water interface was studied and discussed in details.