Abstract
Photoluminescence (PL) is the center property to deploy carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in diverse applications although their physicochemical origin is still debated. Herein, carboxylic-terminated CQDs were synthesized from citric acid (CA) and treated sequentially with ethylenediamine (EDA). Infrared, magnetic, X-ray photoelectron and UV–Vis spectroscopies indicated the formation of surface fluorophores by the EDA treatment. The post-decorated surface fluorophores accounted for a resolved UV absorption band at 346 nm, which originated from HOMO → LUMO transition in the fluorophores. The post-decorated fluorophores dominated the emission spectrum of CQDs when excited with wavelengths below 340 nm and enhanced the PL quantum yield of CQDs from 20.7% to 47.6%. The results pave new understanding on the optical properties of CQDs derived from CA and amines.
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