Green, low-cost synthesis of photoluminescent carbon dots by hydrothermal treatment of willow bark and their application as an effective photocatalyst for fabricating Au nanoparticles–reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for glucose detection†
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrate that hydrothermal carbonization of low-cost wastes of willow bark leads to water-soluble, photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs) with diameters ranging from 1 to 4 nm and a quantum yield of approximately 6.0%. We further demonstrate the proof of concept that such CDs can be used as an effective photocatalyst for the simultaneous reduction of Au(III) complex and graphene oxide to form Au