At present, the actual mechanism of the photoluminescence (PL) of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) is still an open debate among researchers. Because of the variety of CDs, it is highly important to summarize the PL mechanism for these kinds of carbon materials; doing so can guide the development of effective synthesis routes and novel applications. This review will focus on the PL mechanism of CDs. Three types of fluorescent CDs were involved: graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon nanodots (CNDs), and polymer dots (PDs). Four reasonable PL mechanisms have been confirmed: the quantum confinement effect or conjugated π-domains, which are determined by the carbon core; the surface state, which is determined by hybridization of the carbon backbone and the connected chemical groups; the molecule state, which is determined solely by the fluorescent molecules connected on the surface or interior of the CDs; and the crosslink-enhanced emission (CEE) effect. To give a thorough summary, the category and synthesis routes, as well as the chemical/physical properties for the CDs, are briefly introduced in advance.

The photoluminescence mechanism in carbon dots (graphene quantum dots, carbon nanodots, and polymer dots): current state and future perspective

The emerging graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and carbon dots (C-dots) have gained tremendous attention for their enormous potentials for biomedical applications, owing to their unique and tunable photoluminescence properties, exceptional physicochemical properties, high photostability, biocompatibility, and small size. This article aims to update the latest results in this rapidly evolving field and to provide critical insights to inspire more exciting developments. We comparatively review the properties and synthesis methods of these carbon nanodots and place emphasis on their biological (both fundamental and theranostic) applications.

Glowing Graphene Quantum Dots and Carbon Dots: Properties, Syntheses, and Biological Applications

A facile approach for preparation of photoluminescent (PL) carbon dots (CDs) is reported. The three resulting CDs emit bright and stable red, green and blue (RGB) colors of luminescence, under a single ultraviolet-light excitation. Alterations of PL emission of these CDs are tentatively proposed to result from the difference in their particle size and nitrogen content. Interestingly, up-conversion (UC)PL of these CDs is also observed. Moreover, flexible full-color emissive PVA films can be achieved through mixing two or three CDs in the appropriate ratios. These CDs also show low cytotoxicity and excellent cellular imaging capability. The facile preparation and unique optical features make these CDs potentially useful in numerous applications such as light-emitting diodes, full-color displays, and multiplexed (UC)PL bioimaging.

Red, Green, and Blue Luminescence by Carbon Dots: Full‐Color Emission Tuning and Multicolor Cellular Imaging

and Applications of Fullerenes, Carbon Dots, Nanotubes, Graphene, Nanodiamonds, and Combined Superstructures Vasilios Georgakilas,† Jason A. Perman,‡ Jiri Tucek,‡ and Radek Zboril*,‡ †Material Science Department, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece ‡Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacky University in Olomouc, 17 listopadu 1192/12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic

Broad family of carbon nanoallotropes: classification, chemistry, and applications of fullerenes, carbon dots, nanotubes, graphene, nanodiamonds, and combined superstructures.

To obtain graphene-based fluorescent materials, one of the effective approaches is to convert one-dimensional (1D) graphene to 0D graphene quantum dots (GQDs), yielding an emerging nanolight with extraordinary properties due to their remarkable quantum confinement and edge effects. In this review, the state-of-the-art knowledge of GQDs is presented. The synthetic methods were summarized, with emphasis on the top-down routes which possess the advantages of abundant raw materials, large scale production and simple operation. Optical properties of GQDs are also systematically discussed ranging from the mechanism, the influencing factors to the optical tunability. The current applications are also reviewed, followed by an outlook on their future and potential development, involving the effective synthetic methods, systematic photoluminescent mechanism, bandgap engineering, in addition to the potential applications in bioimaging, sensors, etc.

Focusing on luminescent graphene quantum dots: current status and future perspectives

Amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots (af-GQDs) with discrete molecular weights and specific edges were self-limitedly extracted from oxidized graphene sheet. Their optical properties can be precisely controlled only by the selective and quantitative functionalization at the edge sites. The af-GQDS exhibit bright colorful fluorescence under a single-wavelength excitation.

Optically tunable amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticlePDF/2017/CC/C7CC01434A

Nontoxic organic solvents identified using an a priori approach with Hansen solubility parameters

An electrochemical electrode physisorbed with Ni(cyclam) complex molecules containing tetraphenylborate ions (BPh4–) as counteranions shows catalytic activity for the reduction reaction of CO2 to CO in an aqueous electrolyte, superior to that of an electrode physisorbed with conventional [Ni(cyclam)]Cl2 complex molecules. The BPh4–-containing Ni(cyclam) is inferred as having high hydrophobicity based on its Hansen solubility parameter (HSP), with an interaction sphere excluding HSPs of water in a three-dimensional vector space. The high hydrophobicity of BPh4–-containing Ni(cyclam) molecules inhibits their dissolution into aqueous electrolyte and retains their immobilization onto the electrode surface, which we believe to result in the improved catalytic activity of the electrode physisorbed with them. HSP analysis also provides an optimized mixing ratio of solvents dissolving BPh4–-containing Ni(cyclam) molecules.

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Riichiro Ohta

Papers

Optically tunable amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots

Nontoxic organic solvents identified using an a priori approach with Hansen solubility parameters

Efficient Catalytic Electrode for CO2 Reduction Realized by Physisorbing Ni(cyclam) Molecules with Hydrophobicity Based on Hansen’s Theory

Anti-agglomerating effect in vertically aligned carbon nanotubes derived by antisolvent precipitation of naphthalene

Electrodeposition of strontium apatite nanorod arrays and their cell compatibility