Modulation of afterglow electrochemiluminescence from nitrogen-deficient graphitic carbon nitride by pH

Abstract

Enhancing afterglow electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is significant to promote its further application. Here we find that the afterglow ECL of nitrogen-deficient graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N_4−x) nanosheets is modulable by environmental pH, and reaches the maximum at pH 9.0. The modulation mechanism is investigated by coupling the electrochemical and optical methods.