Review on synthesis and properties of carbon dots with emphasis to combat environmental toxins

Abstract

Carbon based materials (CBNMs) have acquired a novel platform owing to their unique physiochemical properties to define its role in several broad areas of medicine, electronics and environmental remedies. In comparison with conventional, industrial carbon material and new generation CBNMs, carbon dots (CDs) have shown considerable interest with respect to their tunable optical properties, low toxicity, higher quantum yield, excellent biocompatibility, and abundance of functional groups (like amino, carboxyl and hydroxyl). In this review we have summarized CDs types (based on their micronanostrucutres), synthesis methods, optical properties and their application in environment pollution control based on their sorption and bio-catalytic degradation of organic and inorganic pollutants at reasonably low cost. The photo-catalytic reduction of heavy metals interaction using advance spectroscopy and theoretical analysis is discussed, further the future prospects and challenges in the means of CBNMs are emphasized.