Abstract
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are a new class of carbon nanomaterials with a size lower than 10 nm, and gain more and more attention since the discovery in 2004 due to the specific characteristics such as high solubility, robust chemical inertness, convenient for modification and high resistance to photobleaching. Compared with the traditional semiconductor quantum dots, CQDs have superior biological advantages such as low toxicity and good biocompatibility. Furthermore, CQDs have the excellent electronic properties to work as electron donors and acceptors, making this kind of material a kind of ideal emitters in the electrogenerated chemiluminescence process. In this review, we describe the recent progress in the field of electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensors using CQDs as emitters or enhancers, and in the applications of protein detection, cancer marker measurement and cell counting.
