Fabrication of a lamellar alginate-based aerogel decorated with carbon quantum dots for controlled fluorescence behaviors

Abstract

This study aimed to construct an alginate aerogel doped with carbon quantum dots and investigate the fluorescence properties of the composites. The carbon quantum dots with the highest fluorescence intensity were obtained using a methanol–water ratio of 1 : 1, a reaction time of 90 minutes, and a reaction temperature of 160 °C. The fluorescent carbon quantum dot sodium alginate-based aerogel (FCSA) obtained by compounding alginate and carbon quantum dots exhibited excellent fluorescence properties when the concentration of nano-carbon quantum dot solution was 10.0 vol%. By incorporating nano-carbon quantum dots, the fluorescence properties of the lamellar alginate aerogel can be easily and efficiently adjusted. The alginate aerogel decorated with nano-carbon quantum dots exhibits promising potential in biomedical applications due to its biodegradable, biocompatible, and sustainable properties.