Understanding and manipulating luminescence in carbon nanodots. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Su, Z.C.; Ye, H.G.; Xiong, Z.; Lou, Q.; Zhang, Z.; Tang, F.; Tang, J.Y.; Dai, J.Y.; Shan, C.X.; Xu, S.J.
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 126(2018)
• Page Start: 58
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2017.10.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: Carbon nanodots (CDs), a new star in the carbon nanomaterials family, have been demonstrated to show strong luminescence, and can meet the needs of large-scale production for biological and medical applications due to their low toxicity and biocompatibility. However, their luminescence mechanisms, such as color tuning and strong excitation-dependent luminescence, are still unclear. Herein, we present a state-of-the-art understanding and manipulating luminescence in CDs by changing their environmental states and using multiple spectroscopic methods as well as the first-principles theoretical calculations. Our study reveals that the edge-carbon atoms and incorporated nitrogen atoms play critical roles in the luminescence mechanisms of CDs, and thus paves the way for manipulation of luminescence in CDs. Graphical abstract: Image 1