Homogeneous Dual-Mode ECL-FL Sensor for Sensitive Hydrogen Sulfide Detection: Mechanistic Insights and Applications in Environmental and Bioanalytical Monitoring

Abstract

A dual-mode electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and fluorescence (FL) probe was developed based on functionalized metal-organic framework nanosheets (RuMOFNSs) and (3-((2,4-dinitrophenyl)thio)phenyl)methanol (DNB) for the highly sensitive detection of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in homogeneous systems. Compared to conventional heterogeneous detection strategies, the homogeneous nature of this probe eliminates signal loss associated with solid-phase immobilization, thereby enhancing the interaction efficiency between the probe and target molecules. The developed sensing platform exhibited exceptional sensitivity, achieving detection limits of 0.18 pM in ECL and 0.4 nM in FL, with recovery rates ranging from 96.1% to 101.7%. Moreover, the probe demonstrated high selectivity against potential interfering metal ions and proved effective for monitoring food spoilage and dynamic H₂S fluctuations in rat brain tissue. Compared to existing detection approaches, this dual-mode probe offers superior sensitivity, selectivity, and broader applicability, underscoring its potential for environmental and biomedical analyse