Effects of pyrolysis temperature on plant-seed-derived carbon dots

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) from natural sources can be produced through pyrolysis, a simple, solvent-free, and cost-effective method suitable for large-scale production. However, there is limited research on the optimal pyrolysis conditions for synthesizing natural CDs with fluorescent properties. Understanding how synthesis conditions impact the optical and structural characteristics is crucial for enhancing the fluorescence of natural CDs. This study investigates the structures and optical properties of natural CDs synthesized from plant seeds at different pyrolysis temperatures. Effective synthesis of fluorescent CDs was observed at temperatures corresponding to mass reduction. Higher pyrolysis temperatures enhanced the carbon core's crystallinity, leading to a quantum yield increase to approximately 30%, comparable to CDs synthesized using conventional methods. These findings offer valuable insights into producing fluorescent CDs from natural sources.