Unprecedented Two-Step Chemiluminescence of Polyamine-Functionalized Carbon Nanodots Induced by Fenton-Like System

Abstract

We reported an unprecedented chemiluminescence (CL) behavior of polyamine-functionalized carbon dots induced by Fe3+–H2O2 Fenton-like system. The first-step CL intensity increased with the increasing of the concentration of H2O2 and Fe3+, when the Fe3+ concentration came to 10−3 M, the unprecedented two-step CL behavior appeared. The CL intensity of BPEI-CDs induced by Fenton-like system was about 10 times stronger than that of naked CDs. The possible two-step CL mechanism was speculated based on the photoluminescence spectra, CL emission spectra, and the effects of radical scavengers on the CL intensity. Radiative recombination of the injected holes by strong oxidant perferrate formed through Fe3+–H2O2 reaction and the ·OH generated from successive Fenton reaction with the thermally excited electrons was proposed, which further facilitate full understanding about the optical properties of carbon dots.