One-step microwave synthesis of N-doped hydroxyl-functionalized carbon dots with ultra-high fluorescence quantum yields

• DOI: 10.1039/c6nr03125k
• Publication Date: 2016-07-28T08:02:51Z
• Authors: Yongqiang Zhang; Xingyuan Liu; Yi Fan; Xiaoyang Guo; Lei Zhou; Ying Lv; Jie Lin
• Keywords: Hydroxyl radical; Carbon fibers

A one-step microwave synthesis of N-doped hydroxyl-functionalized carbon dots (CDs) with ultra-high fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) 99% is reported. These QY CDs were synthesized using citric acid and amino compound-containing hydroxyls like ethanolamine tris(hydroxylmethyl)aminomethane. Amino carboxyl moieties can form amides through dehydration condensation reactions, these act as bridges between hydroxyl groups, modify groups on the surface CDs. The entire reaction be carried out within 5 min. When molar ratio reactants 1 : 1, graphitic nitrogen content highest, synergy leads to a high radiative transition rate nonradiative well QY. developed pathway provide unambiguous remarkable insights into design highly luminescent functionalized dots, expedite applications