Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of chosen terbium complexes deposited into Al2O3 layer at the aluminium cathode

Cathodic electrogenerated luminescence of terbium(III)-(acetylacetonate)3-1,10-phenanthroline, terbium(III)-(salicylate)3 and terbium(III)-(salicylate)3-1,10-phenanthroline complexes were studied. In this experiment terbium complexes were coated upon aluminium porous oxide layer by physical adsorption from methanolic or acetonate solution. The hexagonally ordered porous aluminium oxide has been prepared in a two-step anodization process in sulphuric acid solution. The primary step of cathodic ECL in this method is tunnel emission of hot electrons through barrier oxide layer. Electrochemiluminescence was achieved by recombination of the radical species, such as reduced ligandʹs aromatic moiety and strong oxidizing agent, i.e. sulphate radicals. This study was conducted to investigate ECL spectra, kinetic and integral ECL intensity relative to the porous aluminium oxide layer thickness.