High-quality full-color carbon quantum dots synthesized under an unprecedentedly mild condition
Yuan-Jun Tong,
Lu-Dan Yu,
Yanjun Huang,
Yutong Li,
Nan Li,
Qi Fu,
Yu-Xin Ye,
Fang Zhu,
Janusz Pawliszyn,
Jianqiao Xu,
Gangfeng Ouyang
Affiliations
Yuan-Jun Tong
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China
Lu-Dan Yu
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China
Yanjun Huang
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China
Yutong Li
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China
Nan Li
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China
Qi Fu
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China
Yu-Xin Ye
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China
Fang Zhu
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China
Janusz Pawliszyn
Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L3G1, Canada
Jianqiao Xu
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China; Corresponding author
Gangfeng Ouyang
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry/KLGHEI of Environment and Energy Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, P. R. China; Chemistry College, Center of Advanced Analysis and Gene Sequencing, Zhengzhou University, Kexue Avenue 100, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency Test for Dangerous Chemicals, Guangdong Institute of Analysis (China National Analytical Center Guangzhou), Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 100 Xianlie Middle Road, Guangzhou 510070, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are highly promising to be applied in light-emitting, chemosensing, and other cutting-edge domains. Herein, we successfully fabricate high-quality full-color CQDs under unprecedentedly low temperature and pressure (85°C, 1.88 bar). Stable and narrow fluorescent emissions ranging from blue to green and red light were realized by simple amine engineering, which were further mixed into white-light CQDs with the absolute photoluminescent quantum yield reaching 19.2%. The average mass yield of the CQDs reached 69.0%. The optical performances demonstrated that the CQDs possessed uniform luminescent centers and dominant radiative decay channels. Component analysis further suggested that dehydrated condensation between carboxyl and amine groups directed the growth of the CQDs. By utilizing the CQDs, full-color light-emitting diodes and logic gate sensors were developed. This study paves an important step for promoting the application of CQDs by providing an energy-efficient, safe, and productive synthetic strategy.
