4 - Characterization and physical properties of carbon quantum dots

Abstract

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are zero-dimensional, less than 10nm-sized carbon nanomaterials. CQDs have excellent physical properties, including high thermal and electrical conductivity, long-term fluorescence stability, and good thermal stability. Furthermore, they exhibit biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, chemical stability, and low toxicity. The different sizes and functional groups of CQDs are responsible for their broad physical and optical properties. Furthermore, their properties can be improved using various methods to tune their size, chemical and electronic structure, and surface functionality. In this chapter, we will discuss the remarkable physical, photophysical, and electrochemical properties of CQDs and study their properties by various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction for crystallinity, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope for morphology, and the surface functionality by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.