Study on the fluorescence properties of carbon dots prepared via combustion process

Abstract

The unique properties of carbon dots make it have wide potential applications. The combustion process is, thus far, the most representative and common technological path. In this very paper, carbon dots were prepared by burning flammable organic materials such as ethanol, n-butanol, domestic candle and benzene. A series of characterizations were carried out to reveal the structure and photo luminescence of the prepared carbon dots. It is found that the size of carbon dots was at 2–4 nm. More than half disordered graphitic phase was involved in carbon dots. With the length of carbon chain of the precursors grew, the content of disordered graphitic phase has increased. FT-IR revealed that there were C˭C bonds and oxygen containing group on the surface of carbon dots. Different precursors could change the surface groups and surface states of CDs slightly. As one dispersed the prepared carbon dots in the organic solvents, it is found that there would be the dependent photo fluorescence emission bands excited with the UV light of 330–400 nm. This dependent photo fluorescence emission bands relied on the length of carbon chain of the precursors, the aromatic framework in the carbon dots. The emission spectrum of carbon dots prepared with ethanol and n-butanol had good stability and can be used in a variety of solvent systems.