“Signal on” electrochemiluminescence pentachlorophenol sensor based on luminol-MWCNTs@graphene oxide nanoribbons system

•MWCNTs@graphene oxide nanoribbons show ~6-fold enhanced oxidation current of luminol.•MWCNTs@graphene oxide nanoribbons show ~5.3-fold amplified ECL intensity of luminol.•A “signal on” ECL sensor for sensitive detection of PCP was constructed.•The resulting ECL sensor exhibits good performances for PCP detection.

A “signal on” electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for pentachlorophenol (PCP) detection was constructed based on the amplified ECL of luminol at a multiwalled carbon nanotubes@graphene oxide nanoribbons (MWCNTs@GONRs) modified electrode. Due to the good electrocatalytic activity of MWCNTs@GONRs toward luminol system, the oxidation peak current of luminol at the MWCNTs@GONRs modified electrode was enhanced for ~6-fold than that of the bare electrode; and the ECL intensity of luminol was amplified for ~5.3-fold correspondingly. Furthermore, the amplified ECL signal of luminol was linear with the concentration of PCP in the range between 2 pg mL−1 and 10 ng mL−1 with a detection limit of 0.7 pg mL−1 (S/N=3). With the merits of good reproducibility, acceptable stability, wide linear range, low detection limit and simplicity, the proposed luminol ECL sensor showed great potential in the field of analytical applications.

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