Electrochemiluminescence of quantum dots: synthesis, mechanisms and Sensor application

Abstract

Quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as promising alternatives for constructing electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensors owing to their outstanding optical and electonic properties, including size-dependent wavelengths, broad absorption spectra, narrow emission bands, high luminescence efficiency, and good stability. Leveraging these attributes, QD-based ECL sensors exhibit ultra-sensitivity and real-time detection, attracting significant attention in the field of advanced analytical sensing. Therefore, myriad reviews have focused on the design and application of QD-based ECL sensors. In contrast, the understanding of the corresponding synthetic strategy and ECL mechanism remains relatively limited. This review starts with an overview of QD synthesis methods for ECL sensing, followed by a comparison of different ECL mechanisms. Subsequently, we summarize the recent advances in the applications of QD-based ECL sensors. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and present insights into future developments in this field.