Recent advances and future prospects in oxidative-reduction low-triggering-potential electrochemiluminescence strategies based on nanoparticle luminophores

Abstract

The oxidative-reduction electrochemiluminescence (ECL) potential of a luminophore is one of the most significant parameters during light generation processes when considering the growing demand for anti-interference analysis techniques, electrode compatibility and the reduction of damage to biological molecules due to excessive excitation potential. Nanoparticle luminophores, including quantum dots (QDs) and metal nanoclusters (NCs), possess tremendous potential for forming various ECL sensors due to their adjustable surface states. However, few reviews focused on nanoparticle luminophore-based ECL systems for low-triggering-potential (LTP) oxidative-reduction ECL to avoid the possible interference and oxidative damage of biological molecules. This review summarizes the recent advances in the LTP oxidative-reduction ECL potential strategy with nanoparticle luminophores as ECL emitters, including matching efficient coreactants and nanoparticle luminophores, doping nanoparticle luminophores, constructing donor–acceptor systems, choosing suitable working electrodes, combining multiplex nanoparticle luminophores, and employing surface-engineering strategies. In the context of the different LTP ECL systems, potential-lowering strategies and bio-related applications are discussed in detail. Additionally, the future trends and challenges of low ECL-triggering-potential strategies are discussed.