The potential of an MOF accelerator in an electrochemiluminescence system for sensitive detection of menthol enantiomers

Abstract

The critical element of an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) chiral sensor is the chiral electrode modifier. Its role is to selectively differentiate between enantiomers and convert this differentiation into an electrochemical signal. In this study, the researchers developed a chiral ECL recognition system for detecting menthol (Men). This system utilized a homochiral [(Zn(Hmim/L-His)₂)] (L-His-ZIF-8) as a coreactant accelerator and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as a chiral recognition inducer. By introducing coreactant promoters, the ECL efficiency was boosted to 34.7%, thereby improving the sensitivity of the chiral sensors. The researchers conducted a meticulous evaluation of β-CD's ability and mechanism for distinguishing chirality. The results demonstrated a significantly amplified ECL signal in the presence of L-Men, surpassing that of D-Men. This system exhibited exceptional selectivity, stability, and reproducibility in detecting the Men enantiomer and accurately identifying one Men enantiomer from a mixture. The research presents a reliable approach to achieve precise detection of chiral molecules, paving the way for advanced applications in chiral sensing and discrimination.