Improving bipolar electrode sensors by improving electrochemiluminescence efficiency of Ru(bpy)3Cl2

Abstract

Bipolar electrochemistry belongs to the branch of electrochemistry where cathodic and anodic processes can be coupled. As there is no direct contact establishes between the bipolar electrodes and electrical connection, the best way to measure the current produced in the bipolar electrode system is by analyzing the electrochemiluminescence produces by passing the current the voltage across the bipolar electrode system from an external source such as a potentiostat. Ru(bpy)3Cl2 is the preferred reagent which shows ECL (electrochemiluminescence) as it is electrochemically stable, but it has very lower ECL efficiency 3.5-6%. So, the motivation of the research came from the improvement of the sensitivity of the ECL based sensor. ECL based Bipolar electrochemistry have applications in different fields such as clinical diagnostics including thyroid, hormone, tumor, cardiac, diabetes diseases & other diseases causing infections, food testing, water testing, detection of biowarfare, detection of electrolytes and heavy metals, in detecting explosives, in batteries. This dissertation is organized as follows. The first chapter is the introduction in which the basic principle of bipolar electrochemistry and electrochemiluminescence and their application to different fields are discussed. Chapter 2 discusses the results I found and the possible explanation supporting the results. Chapter 3 discusses the improvements possible related to the research field for further research.

Chapter 4 is the conclusion and discusses the importance of bipolar electrochemistry and electrochemistry, the overall research done and how the research should be further progressed in the future.