Dramatically enhancing electrochemiluminescence performance in the aqueous phase using naphthalene diimides with excellent electron-transfer capability and water solubility

Abstract

Luminescent substances with superior electron transfer capability and excellent water solubility are ideal candidates for constructing high-performance electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensors. In this work, we designed and synthesized a series of naphthalene diimide (NDI) derivatives from the perspective of structural regulation. Among them, the luminophore NDI-Cl exhibited outstanding ECL performance in the aqueous phase, benefiting from its high water solubility and favorable electron transfer properties. Furthermore, based on electrostatic interactions, the newly developed NDI-Cl-based ECL system showed an ultrasensitive and selective response to ATP, with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 11.8 μM. This study not only reveals the crucial role of electron transfer in ECL at the molecular level but also provides a new strategy for designing high-performance ECL sensors.