Platinum nanoparticle-catalyzed lucigenin–hydrazine chemiluminescence

It was found that lucigenin alkaline solution could react with hydrazine in the presence of Pt nanoparticles to generate strong chemiluminescence (CL) centered at 480 nm. In order to explore the CL mechanism, UV–visible spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra studies before and after the CL reaction were carried out. The effects of O2 and superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the CL reaction were examined. The catalytic effect of Pt NPs on the hydrazine–O2 reaction was studied. A possible mechanism is proposed to be due to that Pt NPs catalyzed the reaction between hydrazine and the dissolved oxygen under alkaline conditions to yield hydroperoxide species and superoxide radical anion, which further oxidized lucigenin to produce CL emission. Moreover, the effects of some organic compounds containing hydroxyl (OH), carboxyl (COOH), carbonyl (CO), amino (NH2), or sulfur groups on the lucigenin–hydrazine–Pt NPs CL system were tested. Thiol-containing compounds such as cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH), homocysteine (Hcy), and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) were observed to greatly enhance the CL intensity. It is suggested that the CL enhancement might be due to the fact that thiol-containing compounds could facilitate the electron transfer process under the catalysis of Pt nanoparticles and accelerate the generation of OH and O2− radicals, leading to the strong CL.