Rare earth complexes chemiluminescence catalyzed by gold nanoparticles for fast sensing of Tb3+and Eu3+

Developing multiplex sensing technique is of great significance for fast sample analysis. However, the broad emissions of most chemiluminescence (CL) luminophores make the multiplex CL analysis be diffi-cult. In this work, a simple and sensitive CL analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of Tb3 + and Eu3 + thanking to their narrow band emission. The technique was based on a mixed CL system of periodate (IO4-)-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-rare earth complexes, in which the reactive oxygen species (ROSs) especially singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) can transfer its energy to the complex of Tb3 + /Eu3 +-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) and then produce the characteristic emissions of Tb3 + and Eu3 + without cross-interference. The further experiment found that the CL emis-sions of Tb3 + and Eu3 + could be catalyzed by the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via enhancing the yield of 1 O 2 . The CL intensities of Tb3 + (at 490 nm) and Eu3 + (at 620 nm) increased linearly with concentra-tion of Tb3 + and Eu3 +. After the optimization of the CL sensing conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) were 5.0 x 10 -9 mol/L and 8.0 x 10 -7 mol/L for Tb3 + and Eu3 +, respectively. Finally, the method has been applied for measuring the contents of Tb3 + and Eu3 + in leaching solution of mine sample and Tb3 +/Eu3 + -contained nanomaterials with satisfactory results. The present system provides a new CL technique for multiplex sensing with simplicity and high sensitivity. & COPY; 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

This study developed a simple and sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) analytical method for the simultaneous determination of Tb3+ and Eu3+ in samples. The method utilized a mixed CL system of periodate-hydrogen peroxide-rare earth complexes, where reactive oxygen species, especially singlet oxygen, transferred energy to the complexes of Tb3+/Eu3+ and produced characteristic emissions without interference. The CL intensities of Tb3+ and Eu3+ increased linearly with their concentrations, with detection limits of 5.0 x 10-9 mol/L and 8.0 x 10-7 mol/L, respectively. The method was successfully applied to measure Tb3+/Eu3+ in leaching solution and nanomaterials. It provides a new CL technique for multiplex sensing with simplicity and high sensitivity.