CHEMI-LUMINESCENCE OF LUMINOL AND RELATED COMPOUNDS UNDER ELECTRON-BEAM EXCITATION - ENHANCEMENT OF LIGHT YIELDS BY ADDITION OF DYES

The emission from mixtures of luminol-like molecules and some dyes is studied by electron-beam excitation. It is found that total light yields in the presence of dyes may be somewhat increased over those obtained with the luminol alone. A possible mechanism leading to dye emission is discussed. It is suggested that a chemical reaction is involved and not energy transfer from 3-aminophthalic acid, widely believed to be the emitting species in luminol chemiluminescence. The intensity and kinetics of dye emission may be explained by a radical reaction mechanism with no net change in dye concentration. © 1979 American Chemical Society.