Using stannous ion as an excellent inorganic ECL coreactant for tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II).

It was found that stannous chloride (SnCl(2)), as a popular inorganic reducing reagent, could obviously enhance the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) in aqueous solution. Some factors affecting the ECL reactions between Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) and Sn(2+), including pH, concentrations of coreactant, and electrode materials, were investigated by comparison with a classic ECL coreactant tripropylamine (TPA). The Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-Sn(2+) ECL coreactant system produces stronger and more stable ECL signals, can keep its excellent ECL activity over a wider pH range and has more choices in using electrode materials than the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-TPA ECL coreactant system. The ECL mechanism of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-Sn(2+) coreactant system was also studied in detail.