Abstract
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are carbon-based fluorescent nanomaterials having various applications due to attractive properties. But the low photoluminescence (PL) yield and monochromatic PL behavior of GQDs put limitations on their real-time applications. Therefore, heteroatom doping of GQDs is recognized as the best approach to modify the optical as well as electronic properties of GQDs by modifying their chemical composition and electronic structure. In this review, the new strategies for preparing the heteroatom (N, B, S, P) doped GQDs by using different precursors and methods are discussed in detail. The particle size, emission wavelength, PL emissive color, and quantum yield of recently developed heteroatom doped GQDs are reported in this article. The investigation of structure, crystalline nature, and composition of heteroatom doped GQDs by various characterization techniques such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are also described. The recent progress on the impact of mono or co-doping of heteroatoms on PL behavior, and optical, electrochemiluminescence (ECL), and electrochemical properties of GQDs is also surveyed. Further, heteroatom doped GQDs with attractive properties used in sensing of various metal ions, biomolecules, small organic molecules, etc. by using various techniques with different limits of detection are also summarized. This review provides progressive trends in the development of heteroatom doped GQDs and their various applications.
Highlights
Graphene is a mono-layer carbon nanostructure in which carbon atoms are assembled in a two-dimensional (2D)Neeraj Sohal is currently pursuing her PhD at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, India
Heteroatom doping can be divided into single heteroatom doping and co-doped heteroatom doping
It was determined that the heteroatom doped Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) consists of mainly (100) lattice planes that correspond to the graphitic lattice plane
Summary
Graphene is a mono-layer carbon nanostructure in which carbon atoms are assembled in a two-dimensional (2D). The carboxylic groups located at the edges of GQDs enhance their water solubility as well as providing the potential for functionalization with many inorganic, organic, polymeric, and biomolecules These extraordinary properties of GQDs lead to enhancement of their applications in various elds such as energy storage,[9] biosensing,[10,11] bioimaging,[12] drug delivery,[13] photocatalysis,[14] and many others. GQDs act as electron donors and acceptors owing to their great surface area and a huge number of edge sites These properties increase the ECL and electrochemical activity of GQDs which further enhances their application in biosensing. Dr Soumen Basu, Associate Professor, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, India is currently working in the eld of environmental sustainability by advanced functionalized nanomaterials He is actively involved in developing a chemical sensors and nanobiosensors. Heteroatom doped GQDs improve the physical as well as chemical properties such as chemical reactivity, optical activity, and electronic structure of GQDs by tuning their intrinsic properties.[19,20] there is an urgent need to study the functionalized and heteroatom doped GQDs as they have great potential in biosensing
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