Bioinspired fluorescence carbon quantum dots extracted from natural honey: Efficient material for photonic and antibacterial applications

Abstract

Fluorescent carbon quantum dots were extracted from natural honey using the hydrothermal approach. The XRD and HRTEM investigations confirm the morphology of the carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are spherical shape with a diameter of 8.29 nm. The FTIR and XPS analysis indicate the effective incorporation of nitrogen and sulfuratoms into the CQDs. The sample demonstrated the blue fluorescence by the UV-light illumination (λex=365nm). When excited at 350 nm, the quantum yield of honey CQDs was found to be ∼4.192 % at the emission wavelength (431 nm). Crucially for the first time, the existing honey CQDs generates a strong nonlinear optical response relative to some semiconductor QDs. The non-linear optical characterization was investigated utilizing the Z-Scan method. These CQDs exhibit self-defocusing nonlinearity and strong nonlinear performance in the absorption. Also, the agar well diffusion method used to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of the CQDs against the foodborne pathogens. It is inferred from the existing observations that honey CQDs have been used as effective optoelectronic devices and antimicrobial agents.