Carbon dots and their derivatives with fascinating photoluminescent properties have recently attracted tremendous scientific attention. This work describes the preparation of novel fluorescent bentonite clay (B), modified carbon dots...

Nitrogen-doped, PEGylated carbon dots (C-dots) have been synthesized for the detection of mercury ions (Hg(2+)). The detection limit was found to be 6.8 nM. However, upon functionalization with dithiothreitol (DTT), it reached to as low as 18 pM. The C-dots-Hg(2+) system was also able to efficiently detect biothiols.

Recently, research on carbon nanodots (C-dots), a new type of luminescent nanoparticles with superior optical properties, biocompatibility, and low cost, has been focused on exploring novel properties and structure-related mechanisms to extend their scope. Herein, electrochemiluminescence, a surface-sensitive tool, is used to probe the unrevealed property of carbon nanodots which is characteriz...

Organosilane-functionalized carbon dots (SiC-dots) were prepared by a simple one-pot hydrothermal approach. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the SiC-dots revealed a reversible response toward the temperature (293-343 K). Through Si-O-Si bonding, temperature-sensitive PL SiC-dot films could be easily fabricated on glass substrates.

Various functional precursors based on polythiophene derivatives are designed to prepare carbon dots (C-dots) with tunable emissions ranging from blue to near-infrared (NIR) at a single excitation wavelength (400 nm). The as-prepared C-dots demonstrate homogeneous size, superior optical properties, excellent water solubility, and low cytotoxicity. Thus, the C-dots are candidates for bio-imaging...

Carbon dots are rapidly emerging carbon-based nanomaterials that, due to their growing applications, will inevitable find their way to natural waters; however, their environmental fate is mostly unknown. Carbon dots with different surface functionality were fabricated and characterized by TEM and FT-IR. Their surface charge, given by the zeta potential, and their hydrodynamic diameter in suspen...

Nitrogen doping has been a powerful way to modify the properties of carbon materials ranging from activated carbon to graphene. Here we report on a solution chemistry approach to nitrogen-doped colloidal graphene quantum dots with well-defined structures. N-doping was demonstrated to significantly affect the properties of the quantum dots, including the emergence of size-dependent electrocataly...

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs, C-dots or CDs), which are generally small carbon nanoparticles (less than 10 nm in size) with various unique properties, have found wide use in more and more fields during the last few years. In this feature article, we describe the recent progress in the field of CQDs, focusing on their synthetic methods, size control, modification strategies, photoelectric propertie...

Using commercially activated carbon, we developed a simple and effective direct chemical oxidation route to prepare good biocompatible multicolor photoluminescent carbon dots.

Polymer carbon dots (PCDs) represent a new class of carbon dots (CDs) possessing sub-fluorophores and unique polymer-like structures. However, like small molecule dyes and traditional CDs, PCDs often suffer from self-quenching effect in solid state, limiting their potential applications. Moreover, it is hard to prepare PCDs that have the same chemical structure, exhibiting full-color emission u...