Electrochemistry and Spectroelectrochemistry of Luminescent Europium Complexes

Journal Article · Wed May 04 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Electroanalysis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.201600034· OSTI ID:1327115

Lines, Amanda M. ^[1]; Wang, Zheming ^[2]; Clark, Sue B. ^[1]; Bryan, Samuel A. ^[3]

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1. Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99163; Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland WA 99352
2. E Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland WA 99352
3. Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland WA 99352

Fast, cost effective, and robust means of detecting and quantifying lanthanides are needed for supporting more efficient tracking within the nuclear, medicinal, and industrial fields. Spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) is a powerful technique combining electrochemistry and spectroscopy that can meet those needs. The primary limitation of SEC as a detection method for lanthanides is their low molar absorptivity in absorbance based measurements and low emission intensities in fluorescence based measurements; both lead to high limits of detection. These limitations can be circumvented by complexing the lanthanides with sensitizing ligands that enhance fluorescence, thereby dropping the limits of detection. Complexation may also stabilize the metal ions in solution and improve the electrochemical reversibility, or Nernstian behavior, of the redox couples. To demonstrate this concept, studies were completed using europium in complexes with four different sensitizing ligands. Initial work indicates Eu in the four complexes studied does display the necessary characteristics for SEC analysis, which was successfully and reproducibly applied to all Eu complexes.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1327115
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-114011; 48623; DN4001010
• Journal Information: Electroanalysis, Journal Name: Electroanalysis Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 28; ISSN 1040-0397
• Publisher: Wiley
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
spectroelectrochemistry