Wireless multimodal light-emitting arrays operating on the principles of LEDs and ECL.

Abstract

Electrochemistry-based light-emitting devices have gained considerable attention in different applications such as sensing and optical imaging. In particular, such systems are an interesting alternative for the development of multimodal light-emitting platforms. Herein we designed a multicolor light-emitting array, based on the electrochemical switch-on of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a different intrinsic threshold voltage. Thermodynamically and kinetically favored coupled redox reactions, i.e. the oxidation of Mg and the reduction of protons on Pt, act as driving force to power the diodes. Moreover, this system enables to trigger an additional light emission based on the interfacial reductive-oxidative electrochemiluminescence (ECL) mechanism of the Ru(bpy)32+/S2O82- system. The synergy between these light-emission pathways offers a multimodal platform for the straightforward optical readout of physico-chemical information based on composition changes of the solution.