Materials for Electrochemiluminescence: TADF, Hydrogen‐Bonding, and Aggregation‐ and Crystallization‐Induced Emission Luminophores

This review summarizes recent advances towards enhanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) using novel design strategies such as thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) luminophores (both donor-acceptor and multiresonance), hydrogen-bonding complexes, and aggregation- and crystallization-induced emission strategies. In many scenarios, the ECL enhancement is shown to be significant, thus suggesting future applications for thin film optoelectronics and sensing. These new avenues of intelligent ECL luminophore designs are expected to be of great importance for ECL-related research.

Abstract

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a rapidly growing discipline with many analytical applications from immunoassays to single-molecule detection. At the forefront of ECL research is materials chemistry, which looks at engineering new materials and compounds exhibiting enhanced ECL efficiencies compared to conventional fluorescent materials. In this review, we summarize recent molecular design strategies that lead to high efficiency ECL. In particular, we feature recent advances in the use of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters to produce enhanced electrochemiluminescence. We also document how hydrogen bonding, aggregation, and crystallization can each be recruited in the design of materials showing enhanced electrochemiluminescence.

Zum Volltext