Recent advances in electrochemiluminescence imaging analysis

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) has been widely applied in imaging owing to features that distinguish it from other microscopic techniques and electrochemical methods, including its high signal-to-noise ratio, remarkable sensitivity, wide linear range, high spatiotemporal resolution, and near-zero background light. Imaging technology based on ECL has been used in the fields of immunosensing, pathological cell detection, and drug analysis. Additionally, its simple operation and ability to detect dynamic processes and catalytic sites strengthen its potential for research on material surfaces and interfaces, in vivo biological analysis, and cell visualization. At the same time, the emergence of a variety of nanomaterials and new microscopic analysis equipment has further promoted the development of high-resolution ECL imaging technology. This paper introduces the development of ECL technology and the mechanisms of the main ECL systems. It then describes various forms of ECL imaging methods, and reviews research progress on ECL imaging technology in the fields of single-particle imaging, fingerprint structure analysis, and single-cell microscopic imaging. Finally, the authors offer their views about the prospects for ECL imaging technology. [Display omitted] •Electrochemiluminescence technology and mechanisms are introduced.•Various electrochemiluminescence imaging techniques are described.•Progress in single-entity electrochemiluminescence imaging is reviewed.•Advances in using electrochemiluminescence for fingerprint imaging are summarized.