Zinc　stannate　(Zn2SnO4)　nanorods　with　promising　biocompatibility,　low　toxicity,　was　firstly　observed　to　show　excellent　cathodic　electrochemiluminescence　(ECL)　emission　and　used　as　a　brand-new　ECL　luminophore　to　fabricate　a　sensitive　and　novel　label-free　immunosensor　in　this　paper.　Zn2SnO4　nanorods　were　synthesized　via　a　simple　hydrothermal　technique　and　consequent　heat　treatment.　After　amino-functionalization　with　3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane　(APTES),　the　Zn2SnO4-NH2　was　acquired,　which　was　functionalize　with　gold　nanoparticles　(Au　NPs)　via　Au-N　linkage　(Au@Zn2SnO4)　wherein　Au　NPs　could　immobilized　large　amount　of　α-fetoprotein　(AFP)　antibodies　and　could　also　heighten　the　ECL　emission　of　Zn2SnO4.　In　order　to　corroborate　the　viability　of　designed　immunosensor,　AFP　antigen　was　employed　as　an　exemplary　analyte.　Tests　relating　to　AFP　detection　revealed　that　our　immunosensor　presented　high　sensitivity,　wide　detection　range　((0.001　ng–50　ng/mL),　low　limit　of　detection　(3.4　pg/mL,　S/N　=　3),　good　specificity,　reproducibility,　and　long-term　stability.　Furthermore,　the　trustworthiness　of　the　acquired　ECL　immunosensor　has　been　attested　through　AFP　detection　in　real　human　serum　samples　with　adequate　outcomes.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.