Light-emitting device based electrochemiluminescent (ECL) process promises cost-efficient, large-area emissive applications, as its electrochemical characteristic enables use of air-stabile electrodes and single-layered emitting material. However, rapid degradation of its performance along with thermal decomposition of the device has proven a seemingly fundamental problem. Herein, we present a novel approach that overcomes this critical issue showing that the pulsed current operation regarding electrochemical redox kinetics on the surface of electrode should be considered in order to minimize undesired side reactions. By designing and operating solution-based ECL devices, we confirm the basic principles and conditions for stable performance of the ECL device. It is also demonstrated that applying a controlled-current pulse instead of controlled-voltage yields enhanced stability of ECL devices yielding a half-life time for > 2,000 sec. Bis (2-phenylquinoline) iridium (III) picolinic acid was employed as an ECL luminophore, and the devices were analyzed under various operating conditions; controlled-voltage or controlled-current pulses were applied to the device at different magnitude, frequency, and duty cycle.