Metal–Organic Frameworks-Mediated Assembly of Gold Nanoclusters for Sensing Applications

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are an emerging type of ultrasmall nanomaterials possessing unique physicochemical characteristics. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a singular kind of porous solid and crystalline material, have attracted tremendous attention in recent years. The combination of AuNCs and MOFs can integrate and improve the prominent properties of both components, such as high catalytic activities, tunable optical properties, good biocompatibility, surface functionality and stability, which make the composites of MOFs and AuNCs promising for sensing applications. This review systematically summarizes the recent progress on the sensing of various analytes via MOFs-mediated AuNCs assemblies based on strategies of luminescence sensing, colorimetric sensing, electrochemiluminescence sensing, and electrochemical and photoelectrochemical sensing. A brief outlook regarding the future development of MOFs-mediated AuNCs assemblies for sensing application is presented as well.