Plasmon-Assisted Enhancement of the Ultraweak Chemiluminescence Using Cu/Ni Metal Nanoparticles

Cu/Ni nanoparticles (NPs) with stable fluorescence and excellent water dispersion were synthesized through a facile aqueous solution method with a similar Kirkendall effect. Ultraweak chemiluminescence (CL) from the oxidation reaction between sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO 3 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) in neutral medium was significantly enhanced by 60 ± 5 nm Cu/Ni NP with a copper and nickel molar ratio of 1:2. The enhancement of the time-dependent CL was dependent on the composition of the NP and the order of reagent addition. On the basis of studies of CL emission spectra, electron spin resonance spectra, UV–vis absorption, and fluorescence spectra, a mechanism of plasmon-assisted metal catalytic effect for this metal NP (MNP)-enhanced CL was proposed. The surface plasmons of MNP can obtain energy from chemical reaction, forming the activated MNP (MNP*), which was coupled to ·OH radical to produce the new adduct ·OH-MNP*. The ·OH-MNP* can accelerate the reaction rate of HCO 3 – for the generation of emitter intermediate (CO 2 ) 2 *, which can lead the enhanced CL for the overall reaction.