Effective enhancement of peroxydisulfate electrochemiluminescence on C60/DDAB films

Effective enhancement of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of peroxydisulfate on a C60/didodecyldimethyl ammonium bromide (C60/DDAB) film coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface is reported in this paper. The C60/DDAB film gave lower cathodic current in the presence of peroxydisulfate than that from a bare GCE. To our surprise, electrochemiluminescent intensity from peroxydisulfate reduction was effectively enhanced on the C60/DDAB film, which was 50 times and 250 times higher than those from a DDAB film coated and bare GCE, respectively. Moreover, the ECL onset potential on the C60/DDAB film was about −0.9 V, which positively shifted 200 mV compared with that from the bare GCE. Dissolved oxygen and the applied potential also affected the electrochemiluminescent intensity. The presence of oxygen decreased the intensity, and the intensity reached maximum at the applied potential of −1.7 V. The unique property will greatly enrich ECL studies and applications based on fullerenes.