Single-Atom Catalysts Boosted Electrochemiluminescence.

Abstract

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) combines electrochemical redox processes with photochemical light emission, offering exceptional sensitivity, spatial control, and stability. Widely applied in biosensing, medical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring, its efficiency often depends on advanced catalytic materials. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), featuring isolated metal atoms dispersed on a support, have emerged as promising candidates due to their unique electronic structures, high atom utilization, and tunable catalytic properties. These features enable SACs to improve reaction kinetics, enhance light-emitting efficiency, and provide precise control over the generation of excited-state species essential for ECL. This review highlights recent advancements in SACs-boosted ECL systems, with a focus on their reaction mechanisms, design strategies, and roles in improving electrocatalytic and luminescent performance. Additionally, it summarizes the applications of SACs-boosted ECL in bioanalysis, environmental monitoring, and single-particle imaging. By highlighting the synergies between single-atom catalysis and ECL, this work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the field and a roadmap for future research, paving the way for innovative applications in analytical and sensing technologies.