Nanomaterials Enabling High‑Performance EC and ECL Sensors

Background: Nanomaterials have become indispensable for the development of electrochemical (EC) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensors due to their unique physicochemical properties, including high surface-to-volume ratios, tunable electronic structures, and versatile surface functionalities. The incorporation of nanomaterials such as metal nanoparticles, nanozymes, quantum dots, and porous frameworks has markedly improved electron transfer efficiency, catalytic activity, and signal output in EC and ECL systems. As a result, nanomaterial-enabled EC and ECL sensors have been widely applied in disease diagnostics, food safety, and environmental monitoring. Despite these advances, challenges remain in elucidating the underlying catalytic mechanisms and improving operational stability, reproducibility, and analytical reliability in real samples. Goal: This Research Topic highlights recent advances in the design, functionalization, and application of nanomaterials for electrochemical (EC) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing systems. Particular emphasis is placed on nanomaterial-enabled strategies that promote signal transduction, catalytic efficiency, and detection sensitivity. Contributions focusing on nanozymes, hybrid nanostructures, and porous materials are especially encouraged due to their unique roles in facilitating redox reactions and amplifying ECL signals. In addition, this collection seeks to advance the fundamental understanding of key processes governing EC and ECL sensing, including interfacial electron transfer, catalytic reaction pathways, and reactive intermediate regulation. Studies evaluating the performance of nanomaterial-based sensors in complex biological, food, and environmental matrices are also of great interest. Scope and Information for authors: This Special Issue provides a focused forum for interdisciplinary research on nanomaterials for EC and ECL sensors. We welcome high-quality original research articles and reviews that report significant advances in this field. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:•Design and synthesis of nanomaterials for EC and ECL sensing (e.g., nanozymes, metal nanomaterials, quantum dots, porous materials, and hybrid nanostructures)•Mechanisms of signal amplification in EC and ECL systems•Interfacial electron transfer and catalytic processes in nanomaterial-based sensors•Development of highly sensitive and selective EC/ECL detection strategies•Applications in clinical diagnostics, food safety, and environmental monitoring•Performance evaluation in complex matrices and real-sample analysis Submissions that emphasize mechanistic insights, improved analytical performance, and practical applicability are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Jiyang Liu, Jun Ai, Fengna Xi Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81638/nanomaterials-enabling-high-performance-ec-and-ecl-sensors