A facile approach for the synthesis of highly luminescent carbon dots using vitamin-based small organic molecules with benzene ring structure as precursors

Abstract

In this study, vitamin-based small organic molecules were used as precursors to synthesize carbon dots by means of a hydrothermal approach. The obtained carbon dots presented high luminescence and good cellar-imaging properties when folic acid was used as a precursor and the quantum yield of the carbon dots obtained using the present method was more than 30%. Moreover, green and yellow-green photoluminescence was also successfully achieved by adding the reagents H₃PO₄ and H₂C₂O₄, respectively. The related formation mechanism and photoluminescence emission mechanism of carbon quantum dots were discussed. The present study will open a new possible route for the synthesis of carbon dots with high quality using small organic molecules as precursors.