Construction of Multi-color fluorescent carbon dots by Aggregation-Induced emission

Abstract

Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have garnered significant attention because of their outstanding photophysical characteristics. AIEgens are used in fluorescence imaging, sensors, tumor treatment, and other related fields. However, the synthese of these AIEgens are relatively complicated and requires expensive raw materials. These drawbacks limit their applications and development to a certain extent. In this study, using cheap and convenient materials, we developed a new type of carbon dots (O-CDs) using a one-step solvothermal method, which has the potential to become a new AIEgen. O-CDs exhibit different fluorescence colors in different solvents, and they exist as monomers in ethylic acid and, ethanol alcohol, etc., exhibiting blue fluorescence. After adding water, the fluorescence of O-CDs gradually turns orange red, because the internal rotation of the disulfide bond molecules is restricted and the AIE effect occurs. Using the unique AIE performance of O-CDs, we fabricated an anti-counterfeiting luminous ink, that can be used for encryption in the reversible double switch mode.