Electrochemiluminescence of Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid)aluminum(III) in Aqueous Solution

The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid)aluminum(III) in aqueous solution is reported. ECL is generated by complexing aluminum ions with the chelating agent 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid (HQS) to form Al(HQS)3, followed by oxidation in the presence of tri-n-propylamine (TPrA). The ECL intensity peaks a potential corresponding to oxidation of both TPrA and Al(HQS)3, and the ECL emission spectrum (lambda(max) = 499 nm) matches the photoluminescence emission spectrum, indicating that the emission is from a Al(HQS)3* excited state. ECL efficiencies (phi(ecl), photons generated per redox event) of 0.002 using Ru(bpy)3(2+) (phi(ecl) = 1) as relative standard. Conditions for ECL emission were optimized and used to generate a calibration curve that was linear over the 7 x 10(-6)-4 x 10(-4) M (5-281 mg/L (ppm)) range with a theoretical limit of detection of 1 ppm. The ECL of several metal ions other than aluminum with HQS and effects on Al(HQS)3 ECL were also examined.