Microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of carbon dots from biomass: Fe(III) ion sensing and in-situ methylene blue reduction catalytic activity

Abstract

In this study, zero-dimensional fluorescent carbon dots were synthesized from affordable organic bio-precursors derived from chayote seeds using a one-pot microwave-assisted carbonization process. These biomass-derived carbon dots display excellent fluorescence properties, with an average size of approximately 3.3 nm and a fluorescence quantum yield about 9.56 %. The fluorescence emission spectra were recorded at different excitation peaks, with the highest intensity emission peak observed at 387 nm with an excitation wavelength of 320 nm. These carbon dots effectively detect Fe3+ ions, with a detection limit of 4.5 µmol. Carbon dots show strong catalytic reduction activity against a reduction of Methylene Blue dye, achieving an 81 % reduction in a short period. These biomass-derived carbon dots presents sustainable and promising option for applications in metal sensing and catalytic degradation.