Ru@NiMoS aggregate with boosted electrochemical catalysis for enhanced electrochemiluminescence and lidocaine detection

A binder-free Ru@NiMoS electrode was engineered by in situ growth of two-dimensional NiMoS nanosheets on nickel foam. This process effectively promoted the electrostatic-driven aggregation of Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺, harnessing the synergistic effect to enhance electrochemiluminescence (ECL) performance. The integration (Ru@NiMoS) achieved an impressive ECL efficiency of 70.1%, marking an impressive 36.9-fold enhancement over conventional Ru. Additionally, its ECL intensity was found to be remarkably 172.2 times greater than that of Ru. Within the Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺/TPA system, NiMoS emerged as a pivotal electrochemical catalyst, markedly boosting both the oxygen evolution reaction and the generation of reactive intermediates. Leveraging these distinctive properties, a highly efficient ECL sensor for lidocaine detection was developed. This sensor exhibited a linear response within the concentration range of 1 nM to 1 μM and achieved a remarkably low detection limit of 0.22 nM, underlining its substantial potential for practical application.