Bis(2,2′-bipyridine)(5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) functionalized gold nanoparticles with electrochemiluminescence activity were successfully synthesized by a simple one-pot method via the reduction of HAuCl4 with NaBH4 in the presence of bis(2,2′-bipyridine)(5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II), which is of great potential for application in bioanalysis.