Ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence sensor for the detection of synthetic cannabinoids based on perovskite as coreaction accelerator and light-scattering effects of photonic crystals

As is common knowledge, a strong electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signal is required to ensure the high sensitivity of trace target detection. Here, a dual signal amplification strategy by integrating of perovskite and photonic crystal was fabricated for quantitative synthetic cannabinoids (AB-PINACA) detection based on Zr-connected PTCA and TCPP (PTCA-TCPP) with excellent ECL performance as luminophores. On the one hand, the co-reaction accelerator perovskite (LaCoO3) improved the effective electroactive area of the electrode and promoted the decomposition of K2S2O8, resulting in a stronger ECL signal value. On the other hand, polystyrene inverse opal (PIOPCs) formed after the swelling of PS microspheres not only taken advantage of the light scattering effect and excellent catalytic property of photonic crystals to amplify the ECL signal, but also could be used as a binder to fix LaCoO3 and PTCA-TCPP on the electrode surface to generate unprecedented ECL response and stable ECL signals. Subsequently, the detection substance AB-PINACA was loaded on the electrode surface via the amide bond with the luminophores PTCA-TCPP, thus quenching the ECL signal, so as to realize the sensitive detection of synthetic cannabinoids. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed sensor achieved highly sensitive AB-PINACA detection with a dynamic range from 1.0 × 10−12 to 1.0 × 10−3 g/L and the detection limit was 1.1 × 10−13 g/L, which had great application potential in the detection of synthetic cannabinoids. [Display omitted] •An ultrasensitive ECL sensor based on the dual signal amplification strategy was prepared.•The introduction of perovskite (LaCoO3) could improve the effective electroactive area of the electrode and significantly promote the decomposition of K2S2O8.•Polystyrene inverse opal (PIOPCs) not only taken advantage of the light scattering effect and specific catalytic property to amplify the ECL signal, but also could be used to fix LaCoO3 and PTCA-TCPP to generate stable ECL signals.•The ECL sensor for AB-PINACA determination was firstly fabricated.