Light emission at electrodes: An electrochemiluminescence demonstration

Electrochemiluminescence involves the production of light near an electrode surface by the generation of species that can undergo highly energetic electron transfer reactions. A demonstration is presented that uses Ru(bpy)3 2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) as the light-emitting molecule and tri-n-pro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of chemical education Vol. 78; no. 5; p. 641
Main Authors Bolton, Ed, Richter, Mark M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Easton Division of Chemical Education 01.05.2001
American Chemical Society
Subjects
Atomic Structure
Chemiluminescence
Chemistry
College Science
Demonstrations (Science)
Electrochemiluminescence
Electrodes
Electron transfer
Experiments
Higher Education
Light
Light emission
Organic chemistry
Science Activities
Science education
Science Experiments
Science Instruction
Second-Year Undergraduate
Electrochemistry
Demonstrations
Tested Demonstrations
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Summary:Electrochemiluminescence involves the production of light near an electrode surface by the generation of species that can undergo highly energetic electron transfer reactions. A demonstration is presented that uses Ru(bpy)3 2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) as the light-emitting molecule and tri-n-propylamine (C9H21N) as a coreactant (i.e., a species capable of generating a strong reductant upon oxidation). Upon application of a 3-volt potential to a platinum electrode immersed in a Ru(bpy)3 2+-C9H21N solution, an orange glow, readily visible in a semidarkened room, is produced at the electrode.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/ed078p641