Enhanced electrochemiluminescence from a stoichiometric ruthenium(II)-iridium(III) complex soft salt

Abstract

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and electrochemistry are reported for a heterometallic soft salt, [Ru(dtbubpy)3][Ir(ppy)2(CN)2]2 ([Ir][Ru][Ir]), consisting of a 2:1 ratio of complementary charged Ru and Ir complexes possessing two different emission colors. The [Ru]2+ and [Ir]− moieties in the [Ir][Ru][Ir] greatly reduce the energy required to produce ECL. Though ECL intensity in the annihilation path was enhanced 18× relative to that of [Ru(bpy)3]2+, ECL in the co-reactant path with tri-n-propylamine was enhanced a further 4×. Spooling spectroscopy gives insight into ECL mechanisms: the unique light emission at 634 nm is due to the [Ru]2+* excited state and no [Ir]−* was generated in either route. Overall, the soft salt system is anticipated to be attractive and suitable for the development of efficient and low-energy-cost ECL detection systems.