Recent advances in new luminescent nanomaterials for electrochemiluminescence sensors

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) has received considerable interest for broad applications due to the potential remarkably high sensitivity and extremely wide dynamic range. In recent years, due to the unique physical (structural, electronic, magnetic and optical) and chemical (catalytic) properties of nanomaterials (NMs), great efforts have been made to investigate their application in ECL. In this review, we present a general description of ECL related to NMs as the emitter. It mainly focuses on the basic mechanisms and the development of an ECL sensing platform fabricated from semiconductor nanocrystals and metal nanoclusters. Finally, we conclude with a look at the future challenges and prospects of the development of ECL.