Electrochemiluminescence sensor for specific recognition of melamine: double luminescence cooperative amplification strategy of self-supporting material ZnNi2O2 and Ru(bpy)32+@HNTs

A self-supporting material of ZnNi 2 O 2 was synthesized and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) served as carriers for Ru(bpy) 3 2+ , enhancing stability of the sensor and improving the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) value in this experiment. The ECL sensor for specific recognition of melamine (MEL) was developed based on ZnNi 2 O 2 and Ru(bpy) 3 2+ @HNTs as dual ECL reagents. The maximum initial signal was obtained in the presence of co-reactant tripropylamine (TPrA) through the synergy of ZnNi 2 O 2 and Ru(bpy) 3 2+ @HNTs. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) containing specific recognition sites for MEL was to enable selective recognition, with pyrrole serving as the functional monomer and MEL as the template molecule. The quenching effect was observed as the concentration of MEL increased. Under optimal conditions, the sensor demonstrated the linear correlation between the change of ECL signal and the logarithm of MEL concentration from the range of 1.0 × 10 −12 to 1.0 × 10 −7  mol·L −1 . Satisfactory results were obtained for the detection of MEL in milk powder.