Research Progress of Purely Organic Luminophores in the Field of Electrochemiluminescence

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is recognized as an analytical technique that integrates the principles of electrochemistry and spectroscopy. In ECL systems based on purely organic luminophores, optical signals can be directly generated through electrical excitation, thereby achieving efficient ECL emission. The selection and optimization of ECL luminophores are considered to exert a critical influence on the overall performance and application value of the ECL system. Purely organic luminophores are regarded as exhibiting significant application potential in the ECL field, which is attributed to their prominent advantages such as straightforward synthesis, facile structural modification, favorable biocompatibility, and tunable optical properties. Currently, ECL sensors based on purely organic luminophores have been successfully employed for the highly selective detection of metal ions, organic pollutants, and biomolecules. Consequently, they are considered to exhibit broad application prospects in areas such as environmental protection, food safety, and clinical diagnosis. In this review, a systematic overview is provided regarding the relationship between the molecular structure, ECL mechanisms, and luminescence properties of various types of purely organic luminophores reported in recent years. Furthermore, their applications in ECL sensors are summarized. This review is intended to offer a theoretical basis and technical reference for the molecular design of novel purely organic luminophores and for further investigations into their ECL performance, thereby promoting the advancement of their applications in the ECL field.