Excitation-dependent Emission Research Articles

Luminous blue carbon quantum dots employing Anisomeles indica (catmint) induce apoptotic signaling pathway in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells.

Herein, luminous blue carbon quantum dots (CDs) employing Anisomeles indica (Catmint) were reported with imaging, self-targeting, and therapeutic effects on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC, MDA-MB-231) cells. The salient features of CDs generated from catmint are as follows: i) optical studies confirm CDs with excitation-dependent emission; ii) high-throughput characterization authenticates the formation of CDs with near-spherical shape with diameter ranging between 5 and 15 nm; iii) CDs induce cytotoxicity (3.22 ± 0.64 μg/ml) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC, MDA-MB-231) cells; iv) fluorescence microscopy demonstrates that CDs promote apoptosis by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential; v) CDs significantly up-regulate pro-apoptotic gene expression levels such as caspases-8/9/3. Finally, our work demonstrates that catmint-derived CDs are prospective nanotheranostics that augment cancer targeting and imaging.

Unexpected tunable photoluminescence and emission mechanism during the gradual increase of cyclic glucose units

Excitation-dependent (λex-dependent) emission is one of the most common emission characteristics of nonconventional luminophores. Previously, we have reported D-xylose crystals has an obvious λex-dependent color tunable persistent room temperature phosphorescence (p-RTP) from blue to green, but its p-RTP emission at long wavelength is very weak. To further explore this attractive multicolor p-RTP behavior, and to enhance its tunability, the photoluminescence (PL) behavior of three common cyclodextrins (CDs), namely α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD, including solution and single crystals, were studied. Their single crystals demonstrate λex-dependent multicolor p-RTP properties in the order of β-CD>αγ-CD>γα-CD, rather than the strongest with the least glucose units (γα-CD). Among them, the λex-dependent tunable p-RTP of β-CD and α-CD is superior to that of D-(+)-xylose single crystal. The above unexpected phenomena could be explained reasonably through detailed single crystal structure analysis and theoretical calculations. The emission behavior of solution and single crystals of CDs can be reasonably explained by the clustering-triggered emission (CTE) mechanism. Furthermore, CD-based covalent organic frameworks (COF) and supramolecules are readily fabricated, which own significantly enhanced p-RTP emission. Due to the intriguing PL property as well as hydrophilic rim and low biotoxicity of CDs, successful imaging of HCT116 cells and encryption applications were demonstrated. It is believed that the intrinsic PL properties of CDs, especially their regularly adjustable multicolor p-RTP that varies with the number of glucose units, have significant guidance for the development of a series of multicolor luminescent materials.

Facile preparation of arginine-based carbon dots for highly selective detection of dopamine

Arginine-based carbon dots (Arg-CDs) were synthesized through a facile one-step hydrothermal method using arginine and urea as precursors. The as-prepared Arg-CDs displayed good aqueous solubility and typical excitation-dependent emission property, with the fluorescence quantum yield of 25.47 %. The fluorescence of Arg-CDs was gradually quenched by the addition of dopamine (DA) in the alkaline solution. However, under neutral and acidic condition, the fluorescence intensity of Arg-CDs remained unchanged upon the addition of DA. The sensing mechanism was probably due to the rapid oxidation of DA to dopaquinone in alkaline condition, which could quench the fluorescence of Arg-CDs through the Inner Filter Effect (IFE). Moreover, the fluorescence change of Arg-CDs was proportional to the concentration of DA under the optimized condition. Because of the linear relationship, the detection limit of dopamine was calculated to be 0.28 μM with the detection range from 10 to 100 μM. The interference experiment was carried out to further verify the specificity of this fluorometric method. Finally, the fluorometry based on Arg-CDs has been successfully used to the determination of DA in human serum with high accuracy and satisfactory recovery.

Excitation-Dependent Emission in Sb3+-Doped All-Inorganic Rare-Earth Double Perovskites for Anticounterfeiting Applications.

Achieving high-efficiency tunable emission in a single phosphor remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a series of Sb3+-doped all-inorganic double perovskites, Sb3+:Cs2NaScCl6, with efficient excitation-dependent emission. In 0.5%Sb3+:Cs2NaScCl6, strong blue emission with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 85% is obtained under 265 nm light irradiation, which turns into bright neutral white light with a PLQY of 56% when excited at 303 nm. Spectroscopic and computational investigations were performed to reveal the mechanism of this excitation-dependent emission. Sb3+ doping induces two different excitation channels: the internal transition of Sb3+: 5s2 → 5s5p and the electron transfer transition of Sb3+: 5s → Sc3+ 3d. The former one generates excited Sb3+ ions, which can undergo efficient energy transfer to populate the host self-trapped exciton (STE) state, yielding enhanced blue emission. The latter one leads to the formation of a new STE state with the hole localized on Sb3+ and the electron delocalized on the nearest Sc3+, which accounts for the newly exhibited low-energy emission. The difference in the excitation pathways of the two emitting STE states results in the highly efficient excitation-dependent emission, making the doped systems promising anticounterfeiting materials.

Temperature and pressure-induced excitation-dependent emissions in zero-dimensional hybrid metal halides with mixed halogens.

Zero-dimensional (0D) hybrid metal halides (HMHs) have emerged as a promising platform for exploring excitation-dependent multicolor luminescent materials owing to their diverse crystal structures and chemical compositions. Nevertheless, understanding the mechanism behind excitation-dependent emissions (EDEs) in 0D HMHs and achieving precise modulation remains challenging. In this work, the delicate regulations on the EDE of 0D (DMEDABr)4SnBr3I3 (DMEDA: N, N'-dimethylethylenediamine) with mixed halogens are achieved under low temperature and high pressure, respectively. The inhomogeneous halogen occupation at the atomic scale leads to the formation of Br-rich and I-rich SnX6 (X = Br, I) octahedra, which act as distinct luminescent centers upon photoexcitation. At low temperatures, the narrowed photoluminescence spectra could distinguish the individual emissions from different luminescent centers, resulting in a pronounced EDE of (DMEDABr)4SnBr3I3. In addition, the contraction and distortion of the luminescent SnX6 (X = Br, I) centers at high pressure further result in different degrees of emission shifts, giving rise to the gradual emergence and disappearance of EDE. This work elucidates the underlying mechanism of EDE in 0D HMHs and highlights the crucial role of halogens in determining the optical properties of metal halides.

NIR-responsive carbon dots as an oxidative-stress amplifier and hyperthermia-induced superior photothermal in-vitro anticancer activity

A facile wet chemistry-based strategy was developed to synthesize orange emissive Carbon dots (O-CDs) based on dehydration-induced ring-fusion of the precursor (1,3-dihydroxynaphthalene) in a dehydrating sulfuric acid medium. The O-CDs revealed significant Near-infrared (808 nm) light harvesting potential with outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency (∼58%) and hence exhibited excellent NIR-light stimulated photothermal anticancer performance. Furthermore, these fluorescent O-CD nanoprobes displayed excitation-dependent polychromatic emissions in the range of 540–640 nm, with the dual emission maxima at 540 and 580 nm, corresponding to yellow and orange emission at the excitation of 490 nm. Various mitochondrial, as well as cytoplasmic apoptosis-related proteins and genes were upregulated during photothermal treatment, which suggests that hyperthermia and oxidative stress have a major impact on cell death. The anticancer activity of O-CDs is likely due to the elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification in cooperation with the hyperthermia effect. This study offers a potential alternative to bio-nanomedicine for cancer treatment by carbon-based photothermal therapy.

Photoluminescence Study of Undoped and Eu-Doped Alkali-Niobate Aluminosilicate Glasses and Glass-Ceramics.

In this study, the photoluminescence (PL) behavior of two aluminosilicate glass series containing alkali-niobates ranging from 0.4 to 20 mol% was investigated. The glasses exhibit an intense visible emission centered at ~18,400 cm-1 for the peralkaline series and at higher energies (~19,300 cm-1) for the metaluminous glasses. However, the photoluminescence emission intensity varies significantly with the niobate content and the bulk chemistry. PL and fluorescence lifetime measurements indicate that the broad emission bands result from the overlap of different niobate populations, whose distribution changes with niobate content. The distinct PL behavior in the two glass series was related to the structural evolution of the niobate units upon niobium addition. An enhancement of the visible emission was observed for a higher fraction of distorted [NbO6] units. Eu-doping was carried out as a structural probe of the glass network, and also to determine if these glasses could be used as potential rare earth element (REE) activators. The crystal field strength around Eu ions is strongly dependent on the bulk chemistry and the niobate content. Furthermore, the peralkaline series showed energy transfer from the host [NbO6] to Eu3+, confirming the feasibility of exploring niobate glasses and glass-ceramics as lanthanide ion-activated luminescent materials. In addition, glass-ceramics (GCs) containing alkali-niobate phases with a perovskite-like structure were developed and studied to verify the optical performance of these materials. It was verified that the bulk chemistry influences crystallization behavior, and also the photoluminescence response. The transparent GC from the metaluminous series exhibits a quenching of the Eu3+ emission, whereas an enhanced emission intensity is observed for the peralkaline GC. The latter shows a strong excitation-dependent PL emission, suggesting energy transfer and migration of electronic excitation from one Eu population to another. Additionally, Eu3+ emissions arising from the D15 and D25 excited states were observed, highlighting the low phonon energy achievable in niobo-aluminosilicate hosts.

Lentils/urea as precursors for profound S and N doping of carbon dots for selective sequential determination of Hg(II) and S(II) in food and environmental samples

In this article, we described a new platform for probing toxic pollutants, namely Hg2+ and S2-, in aquatic environment by tracing the “on–off-on” fluorescence signals of quantum dots. To achieve this, red lentils and urea, as natural precursors, were utilized as sources of S and N doping, respectively, to fabricate blue fluorescent carbon quantum dots, namely, lentils/urea quantum dots (LUQDs) with good quantum yield and plentiful S-doping. In the present work, the quality-by-design (QbD) strategy was applied to control and select the optimum conditions for the microwave-aided synthesis of the carbon dots. LUQDs exhibit excitation-dependent emissions, where the maximum fluorescence emission was at 360 nm after excitation at 300 nm. During the detection step, the fluorescence of LUQDs is quenched by the incorporation of Hg2+ over the range of 0.50–70.0 μM. Next, S2- reacts with Hg2+, resulting in turning on the fluorescence emission of LUQDs in the range of 10.0–150.0 µM.The method was applied for the detection of both Hg2+ and S2- in tap, sewage, and river water samples with a recovery rate ranging between 98.96 % and 101.26 %; in addition, Hg2+ was detected in canned Tuna samples with a recovery of 98.70 %. Furthermore, the greenness of the developed method was confirmed through various greenness metrics.

Moisture as key for understanding the fluorescence of lignocellulose in wood

The fluorescence behaviour of lignocellulose in Pinus sylvestris L. was studied under the influence of moisture. Fluorescence excitation-emission-matrices (EEMs) of the solid wood surfaces were recorded. Two emission peaks were identified, one attributed to lignocellulose, the other to pinosylvins. The two peaks were successfully modelled with PARAFAC2-deconvolution. Lignocellulose showed excitation-dependent emission. Its emission was quenched and blue-shifted by moisture, while pinosylvin showed none of these properties. The quenching efficiency was proportional to the moisture content (linear Stern–Volmer plot), a phenomenon first demonstrated for wood in this study. Potential mechanisms for the moisture quenching are discussed, with clustering-triggered emission best explaining most of the observed peculiarities. The strong influence of moisture on the fluorescence of pine wood suggests that carbohydrates, or interactions between carbohydrates and lignin, play an important role in lignocellulose fluorescence.

Tailoring the Optoelectronic Properties of Soybean-Derived Nitrogen Self-Doped Carbon Dots through Composite Formation with KCl and Zeolite, Synthesized Using Autogenic Atmosphere Pyrolysis

This article investigates the environmentally friendly synthesis and characterization of carbon dots (CDs) derived from soybean biomass, in conjunction with their composites containing potassium chloride (KCl) or zeolite. By using an environmentally sustainable synthetic approach, this study sought to unlock the potential of these materials for various applications. The physicochemical properties of the CDs and composites were comprehensively analyzed using various techniques including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, various optical properties such as UV–Vis absorption, band gap, and excitation–emission behavior were investigated. A key finding to arise from this study was that the inclusion of a doping agent such as KCl or zeolite significantly reduced the size of the resulting CDs. In this light, whereas the undoped species are associated with average sizes of 8.86 ± 0.10 nm, those doped with either zeolite or KCl were associated with average sizes of 3.09 ± 0.05 and 2.07 ± 0.05 nm, respectively. In addition, it was shown that doping with either zeolite or KCl resulted in an alteration of the elemental composition of the CDs and influenced their optical properties, especially their excitation-dependent emission. These promising results point to potential applications in environmental sensing and energy-related fields.

Carbon dots with enhanced red emission for ratiometric sensing and encryption applications.

The excitation-dependent emission properties of carbon dots (Cdots) are extensively reported, but their red emission is often weak, limiting their wider application. Here we introduce ethidium bromide, asa functional precursor with red emission, to enhance the red emission for Cdots, with comparable intensity at a broad wavelength range to multi-emission Cdots (M-Cdots). We found that Cdots prepared with ethidium bromide/ethylenediamine exhibited strong blue and red emission at 440 and 615nm, with optimal excitation at 360 and 470 nm as M-Cdots, respectively, but the Cdots from single ethidium bromide (EB-Cdots) possessed weak red emission. M-Cdots exhibited a broad absorption band at 478 nm, but a bandblue-shifted to 425 nm was observed for EB-Cdots, while no absorption was observed at 478-425 nm for the Cdots prepared with citric acid and ethylenediamine. Thus, we proposed that C=O and C=N formed a π-conjugation structure as the absorption band at 478 nm for the red emission of M-Cdots, as also confirmed with the excitation at 470 nm. Moreover, the π-conjugation structure is fragile and sensitive to harsh conditions, so red emission was difficult to observe for the Cdots prepared with citric acid/ethylenediamine or single ethidium bromide. M-Cdots possess two centers for blue and red emission with different structures. The dual emission was therefore used for ratiometric sensing with dichromate (Cr2O72-) and formaldehyde (HCHO) as the targets using the intensity ratio of the emissions at 615 and 440nm. Due to the comparable intensity at a broad wavelength range, we designed encryption codes with five excitations at 360, 400, 420, 450, and 470 nm as the inputs, and the emission colors were used for information decoding. Thus, we determined why red emission was difficult to realize for Cdots, and our results could motivate the design of red-emission Cdots for extensive applications.

Anodic alumina/carbon composite films: extraction and characterization of the carbon-containing component

Alumina/carbon composites are modern nanomaterials used as adsorbents, catalysts, catalyst supports, supercapacitors, and electrode materials for fuel cells. Among other methods, aluminum anodizing is fairly fast and inexpensive for producing anodic alumina/carbon composites with controllable properties. In the present study, the morphology and composition of carbon-enriched anodic alumina films were obtained during aluminum anodic oxidation in formic acid with ammonium heptamolybdate (C content is ca. 5.0 mass%) or oxalic acid (C content 3.4 mass%) additives. The anodic alumina films have a wide blue fluorescence (FL) in the 400–650 nm wavelength range with a maximum at ca. 490 nm. The FL decay is nonexponential and has an average lifetime of 1.54 and 1.59 ns for ammonium heptamolybdate and oxalic acid additives, respectively. As samples obtained in sulfuric acid (i.e. without carbon) do not possess detectable FL in the 400–650 nm wavelength range, it was concluded that carbon-containing inclusions are responsible for the FL properties of the films. The initial samples were dissolved in the hot aqueous HCl solution and then dialyzed to extract the carbon-containing component. It was shown that the solutions contain nanoparticles of amorphous carbon with a 20–25 nm diameter. Carbon nanoparticles also exhibit an excitation-dependent emission behavior at 280–450 nm excitation wavelengths with average lifetimes of 7.25–8.04 ns, depending on the composition of the initial film. Carbon nanoparticle FL is caused by the core of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and various emission centers on their surface, such as carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups. As CNPs could be exceptional candidates for detection technologies, the biocompatibility assays were performed with living COS-7 mammalian cells, showing a minimal negative impact on the living cells.

Anomalous anti-Kasha excited-state luminescence from symmetry-breaking heterogeneous carbon bisnanohoops

It is a long-standing scientific controversy to achieve anti-Kasha-type multiple emissions by tuning the structures at a molecular level. Although it is known that some conjugated structures have excitation-dependent multiple emissions, no all-benzenoid molecules have yet been reported, the emissions of which originate from different excited states. Herein, we report the design of two symmetry-breaking heterogeneous carbon bisnanohoops that in solution become multiple fluorescent emitters with unusual anti-Kasha characteristics. This phenomenon can be spectroscopically and theoretically explained and will find applications in a wide range of sensing and imaging technologies.

White-light clusteroluminescence of poly(β-hydroxyvinyl N-substituted carbamate)s via through-space interactions

White-light-emitting polymers have attracted considerable attention in the fields of solid-state lighting and flexible displays. However, achieving white light emission from single-component polymers, particularly in clusteroluminescence (CL) polymers, remains a significant challenge. Herein, we synthesize three non-conjugated luminescent poly(β-hydroxyvinyl N-substituted carbamate)s (PHNCs): PHNCs-C with steric cyclohexyl groups, PHNCs-E with side hydroxyethyl groups, and PHNCs-H with flexible n-hexyl carbon chains. All PHNCs show excitation-independent emission, which transitions to excitation-dependent emission as the excitation wavelengths increase. It is proposed that these emissions originate from the π*→n transition of carbamate in hydroxyurethane and CL of hydroxyurethane, respectively. PHNCs-C exhibits the strongest CL and possesses the highest quantum yield (17.9 %) in solution, a performance that surpasses both PHNCs-E and PHNCs-H. This finding implies that a rigid structure can enhance and stabilize the through-space interactions (TSIs) of hydroxyurethane groups, resulting in a wide cluster-size distribution and white-light emission. Theoretical calculations corroborate these experimental results, further revealing that TSIs occur between the oxygen atoms of hydroxyurethane groups, namely, through-space n-n interactions of oxygen atoms. This work not only provides valuable insights into the nature of CL and TSIs, but also offers a novel approach to preparing single-component white-light-emitting CL polymers.

Hybrid cross-linking for the synthesis of highly tough fluorescent alginate fibers

The limited mechanical performance and functional constraints of alginate fibers significantly impede their development in the context of professional research. To address the aforementioned issues, this study initially utilized polyethyleneimine (PEI) and citric acid to synthesize carbon quantum dots (CD) with surface amino functionalization. Subsequently, in a sodium alginate (SA) solution, CD and vinyl silicon-based nanoparticles (VSNP) were co-introduced. Utilizing the abundant hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in polysaccharides, stable interactions were achieved with CD and VSNP. Incorporating a dynamic hydrogen-bonded crosslinking network among CD, VSNP and SA, the establishment of a calcium alginate (CA) ionically crosslinked network is facilitated via calcium-sodium ion exchange. Additionally, the interwoven and interlocked structure between the aforementioned dual networks was established. Employing a wet spinning process, the synergistic multiple dynamic energy dissipation mechanisms significantly enhance the mechanical performance. Fluorescent alginate fibers (CA/VSNP/CD) were prepared. The tensile strength was 3.81 cN/dtex, and the elongation at break was 13.16%. Compared to pure CA fibers, there were respective increases of 95.38% and 82.02%. Simultaneously, the fibers exhibit excitation-dependent emission characteristics. This work lays the foundation for potential applications of fluorescent alginate fibers in environmental monitoring, chemical sensors, dynamic anti-counterfeiting, and biomedical fields.

Assessment of the biocompatibility and bioimaging potential of fluorescent carbon dots derived from waste biomass

The fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) are attractive platforms in bioimaging, biosensing, and disease detection applications due to their attractive physicochemical characteristics. Herein, we synthesized fluorescent and biocompatible C-dots from banana biomass through heat treatment. The C-dots were soluble in water and showed a fluorescent behavior under UV light (365 nm). The synthesized C-dots demonstrated an excitation-dependent emission behavior with a satisfying quantum yield of 15 %. The C-dots exhibited different functional groups in their structure. The C-dots have no adverse effects on human dermal fibroblast cells (HDFs), indicating their biocompatibility. The C-dots have successfully delivered inside cells and showed fluorescent behavior. These results showed that the prepared materials could potentially explore high-performance bioimaging applications.

Synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene oxide by nanosecond pulsed laser ablation of graphene in liquid for bioimaging applications

This work reports the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) and nitrogen-doped graphene oxide (NGOs) by laser ablating graphene flakes in ethanol, utilizing liquid ammonia solution as the nitrogen source. Raman, FT-IR, and UV reveal the oxidation of graphene by laser ablation. Nitrogen doping was confirmed using FTIR and XPS analysis. XPS reveals the presence of pyrrolic, pyridinic, and graphitic nitrogen. The spherical shape and amorphous nature of NGOs are confirmed by HR-TEM analysis. FE-SEM examined the formation of different nanostructures of GO and NGO, and the average particle size was 40–50 nm. All samples show excitation-dependent PL emission with bluish-green emission, and nitrogen doping enhances the PL emission intensity. Time-resolved spectroscopy analysis shows the average lifetime improved by doping and increasing the nitrogen concentration. NGOs with remarkable quantum yields hold great promise for their application in bioimaging. We conducted cytotoxicity of the NGO samples against HeLa cancer cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and selected the sample with lower cytotoxicity in cancer cells for bioimaging purposes. The NGOs with higher concentrations of nitrogen have less cytotoxicity and high photostability.

Castor seed-derived luminescent carbon nanoparticles for metal ion detection and temperature sensing applications

In the current study, castor seeds are used as a first-time natural precursor in the hydrothermal process of making carbon nanoparticles. The produced nanoparticles have a non-uniform size distribution with an average diameter of 13 nm and a roughly spherical shape. They comprise a variety of functional groups containing carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Their spectra have peaks at 524 nm and 441 nm for their emission and excitation, respectively. They exhibit temperature-sensitive Photoluminescence (PL) behaviour, high quantum yield value (24%), and excitation-dependent emission. In high salt environments, UV radiation, storage time, and fluorescent light they provide exceptional photostability. They have been used in applications for metal ion and thermal sensing. With a limit of detection (LOD) value of 18 μM, they are found to be both sensitive and selective to Fe3+ ions. Additionally, a nanothermosensor with good recovery and a broad temperature range (5 °C–85 °C) has also been demonstrated with a thermal sensitivity of 0.54% °C−1 based on their temperature-sensitive behaviour.

Development of amine-functionalized fluorescent silica nanoparticles from coal fly ash as a sustainable source for nanofertilizer

Scaling up the synthesis of fluorescent silica nanoparticles to meet the current demand in diverse applications involves technological limitations. The present study relates to the hydrothermal synthesis of water-soluble, crystalline, blue-emitting amine-functionalized silica nanoparticles from coal fly ash sustainably and economically. This study used tertiary amine (trimethylamine) to prepare amine-functionalized fluorescent silica nanoparticles, enhancing fluorescence quantum yield and nitrogen content for nanofertilizer application. The TEM and FESEM studies show that the silica nanoparticles have a spherical morphology with an average diameter of 4.0 nm. The x-ray photoelectron and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies reveal the presence of the amine group at the surface of silica nanoparticles. The silica nanoparticles exhibit blue fluorescence with an emission maximum of 454 nm at 370 nm excitation and show excitation-dependent emission properties in the aqueous medium. With the perfect spectral overlap between silica nanoparticle emission (donor) and chlorophyll absorption (acceptor), fluorescent silica nanoparticles enhance plant photosynthesis rate by resonance energy transfer. This process accelerates the photosynthesis rate to improve the individual plant’s quality and growth. These findings suggested that the fly ash-derived functionalized silica nanoparticles could be employed as nanofertilizers and novel delivery agents.

High Quantum Yield Amino Acid Carbon Quantum Dots with Unparalleled Refractive Index.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are one of the most promising types of fluorescent nanomaterials due to their exceptional water solubility, excellent optical properties, biocompatibility, chemical inertness, excellent refractive index, and photostability. Nitrogen-containing CQDs, which include amino acid based CQDs, are especially attractive due to their high quantum yield, thermal stability, and potential biomedical applications. Recent studies have attempted to improve the preparation of amino acid based CQDs. However, the highest quantum yield obtained for these dots was only 44%. Furthermore, the refractive indices of amino acid derived CQDs were not determined. Here, we systematically explored the performance of CQDs prepared from all 20 coded amino acids using modified hydrothermal techniques allowing more passivation layers on the surface of the dots to optimize their performance. Intriguingly, we obtained the highest refractive indices ever reported for any CQDs. The values differed among the amino acids, with the highest refractive indices found for positively charged amino acids including arginine-CQDs (∼2.1), histidine-CQDs (∼2.0), and lysine-CQDs (∼1.8). Furthermore, the arginine-CQDs reported here showed a nearly 2-fold increase in the quantum yield (∼86%) and a longer decay time (∼8.0 ns) compared to previous reports. In addition, we also demonstrated that all amino acid based CQD materials displayed excitation-dependent emission profiles (from UV to visible) and were photostable, water-soluble, noncytotoxic, and excellent for high contrast live cell imaging or bioimaging. These results indicate that amino acid based CQD materials are high-refractive-index materials applicable for optoelectronic devices, bioimaging, biosensing, and studying cellular organelles in vivo. This extraordinary RI may be highly useful for exploring cellular elements with different densities.