Carbon Dots: Chemical Synthesis, Properties and Applications – a review

Abstract

Carbon dots correspond to a new class of nanomaterials that have been showing great scientific and technological interest due to their physicochemical properties. Besides their adjustable optical features, they also have good photostability, easy synthesis methods, chemical inertness, solubility, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. Therefore, there are several possibilities of technological applications allowed for this material such as bioimaging, nanomedicine, drug delivery, solar cells, light-emitting diodes, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and others. Hence, the academic community has launched efforts to elucidate the concepts intrinsic to its structure, properties, and behavior of Carbon dots. In summary, the present article brings a brief approach of their evolution since its discovery, the main discussions concerning their structure and properties, commonly chemical syntheses, and a concise description of recent applications in different technological areas.