A novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence quenching sensor for detection of aniline based on luminescent composite nanofibers

A novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) quenching sensor based on the luminescent composite nanofibers for detection of aniline has been developed. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and Ruthenium (II) tris-(bipyridine) (Ru(bpy)32+) doped nylon 6 (PA6) luminescent composite nanofibers (Ru-AuNPs-PA6) were successfully deposited to the bare glassy carbon (GC) electrode by a one-step electrospinning technique. The Ru-AuNPs-PA6 nanofibers maintained the photoelectric properties of the Ru(bpy)32+ ions completely and exhibited excellent ECL behaviors. A high quenching effect on the ECL signal of the Ru-AuNPs-PA6/C2O42− system was obtained with the presence of low concentration aniline compounds. The potential of analytical application was explored by use of the inhibited ECL. The quenching efficiencies of the five kinds of aniline compounds were compared by monitoring the aniline-dependent ECL intensity change. The magnitude of quenching depended linearly upon the concentration of aniline in the investigated concentration range of 10-10 µM. The detection limit for aniline is 5.0 nM, which is comparable or better than that in the reported assays. The solid-state ECL quenching sensor exhibited high sensitivity and good stability. This study may provide new insight into the design of advanced electrospun nanofibers-based ECL sensors for detection and analysis of a variety of active molecules.