Time-resolved measurements of luminescence

Luminescence sensing and imaging has become more widespread in recent years in a variety of industries including the biomedical and environmental fields. Measurements of luminescence lifetime hold inherent advantages over intensity-based response measurements, and advances in both technology and methods have enabled their use in a broader spectrum of applications including real-time medical diagnostics. This review will focus on recent advances in analytical methods, particularly calculation techniques, including time- and frequency-domain lifetime approaches as well as other time-resolved measurements of luminescence. •Developments in technology have led to widespread use of luminescence lifetime.•Growing interest for sensing and imaging applications.•Recent advances in approaches to lifetime calculations are reviewed.•Advantages and disadvantages of various methods are weighed.•Other methods for measurement of luminescence lifetime also described.