Near-infrared electrogenerated chemiluminescence of ytterbium(III) chelates in aqueous electrolytes Original Research Article

The near-infrared electrogenerated chemiluminescence (IR ECL) of Yb(III) chelates at a pulse-polarized oxide-covered aluminium cathode is described for the first time. The observed 2F5/2→2F7/2 radiative transition of Yb(III) is the lowest-energy ECL in aqueous solution reported to date. Also, a proposed explanation for the excitation and emission processes of this near-IR ECL of Yb(III) chelates has been given. The phenomenon offers many new application possibilities for analytical purposes, for example, a new point of view for wavelength discrimination.