Photoluminescent carbon dots based on a rare 3D inorganic–organic hybrid cadmium borate crystal

Abstract

A 3D inorganic–organic hybridized skeleton cadmium borate [Cden][B₅O₈(OH)] (1) (en = ethylenediamine) has been solvothermally synthesized. By calcining it, specific shape carbon dots (C-dots) with abundant free radicals were observed. In addition, C-dots in the ethanol phase exhibited variable photoluminescence and showed rare turn on or off effects to Cr³⁺ ions and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, but only a turn on effect to Cs⁺ ions and a turn off effect to CsPbBr₃ quantum dots.