This
work presents a thorough guide to procedures for absolute
electrochemiluminescence (ECL) quantum efficiency (ΦECL) measurements, which if employed effectively should raise the research
impact of ECL studies for any luminophore. Absolute measurements are
not currently employed in ECL research. Instead, ECL efficiencies
have been determined relative to Ru(bpy)3
2+ under
similar conditions, regardless of whether the conditions are favorable
for Ru(bpy)3
2+ emissions or not. In fact, the
most cited Ru(bpy)3
2+ ΦECL is
from the pioneering work by the Bard research group in 1973 by means
of a rotating ring-disk electrode revolving at 52 rotations per second
measured with a silicon photodiode. Our presented technique uses a
common disk electrode, spectrometer, and photomultiplier tube to measure
the ΦECL. The more common light detection hardware
and electrodes combined with an in-depth calculation walkthrough will
provide ECL researchers the necessary tools to implement ΦECL measurement procedures in their own laboratories. Following
a facile instrument setup and calculation, a systematic study of Ru(bpy)3
2+ ΦECL finds comparable results
to those performed by Bard and co-workers.