Luminescent carbon quantum dots: Synthesis and optical applications

Abstract

In the current study, carbon nanoparticles i.e., carbon quantum dots have been prepared via the hydrothermal method using Citrus limon juice as a precursor. The method used is low-cost and environmentally friendly, besides the precursor is easily available and non-toxic. Various studies were performed on the synthesized CQDs to gain insight into the functional groups present on their surface, excitation and emission spectra, and their photostability. The obtained results showed that CQDs show various functional groups on their surface, emission and excitation bands are broad rather than characteristic peaks, the emission is excitation dependent, Temperature-dependency of photoluminescence, and good photostability in large salt concentrations, with UV-irradiation and storage time of CQDs. These characteristics suggest that the synthesized CQDs can find applications in metal ion detection, cell imaging, drug delivery, and many optoelectronic devices.