Photoexcited state properties of N-ethylcarbazole-functionalized carbon dots in solution and in PVK polymer matrix

Abstract

The adducts of N-ethylcarbazole (NEC) to small carbon nanoparticles prepared by microwave-assisted thermal processing are carbon dots (CDots) with NEC for the dot surface functionalization, thus NEC-CDots, which were shown previously for their high stability in the dot structure and properties. In this study, the optical absorptions and photoexcited state properties of NEC-CDots in solution and in poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) film matrix were evaluated by using optical spectroscopy methods, including those for fluorescence decays and lifetimes. The results suggest that the properties are largely unchanged from solution phase to the polymer matrix environment, very positive to their expected optoelectronic applications.