Two-Dimensional-Plasmon-Boosted Iron Single-Atom Electrochemiluminescence for the Ultrasensitive Detection of Dopamine, Hemin, and Mercury

Single-atom catalysts (SACS) have recently been exploited for luminol-dissolved oxygen electrochemiluminescence (ECL); however, they still suffer from low sensitivity and narrow detection range for a real sample assay. In this work, we boost markedly the ECL response of the iron SAC (Fe-SAC)-based system, for the first time, by the excitation of two-dimensional plasmons derived from the AugSiO(2) nanomembrane. The plausible mechanism of plasmon enhancement in the Fe-SAC ECL system has been discussed. The constructed Fe-SAC ECL system has been applied for the ECL detection of dopamine, hemin, and mercury (Hg2+), with pretty low limits of detection of 0.1, 0.7, and 0.13 nM and wider linear ranges of 0.001-1.0, 0.001-10, and 0.01-0.5 nM, respectively, under optimal conditions.

Automated summary

In this study, the ECL response of the iron SAC-based system was significantly enhanced for the first time by exciting two-dimensional plasmons derived from the AugSiO(2) nanomembrane. The Fe-SAC ECL system was successfully applied for the detection of dopamine, hemin, and mercury with low limits of detection and wider linear ranges under optimal conditions.