In situ electrochemically tuned photoluminescence of [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+ aggregates with single-walled carbon nanotubes and DNA monitored by guanine oxidation

Abstract

A classical ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine) was combined with guanine and single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed with DNA (SWCNTs-DNA) to prepare electrochemically tunable photoluminescence materials. These multi-component aggregates were found to show enhanced luminescence by the electrocatalytic oxidation of guanine under the excitation of a continuous wave green laser at a constant anodic potential via an electrode-solution interface. The results from this study provide a significant foundation for better understanding of DNA-based luminescent devices.