Fabrication of carbon quantum dots via ball milling and their application to bioimaging

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with an average diameter of 3 nm, exhibiting blue photoluminescence, have been obtained from commercial conductive carbon black by a cost-effective and straightforward exfoliation method using dry ball milling in the presence of sodium carbonate. As a secondary abrasive medium, sodium carbonate provides effective exfoliation of carbon black with a high degree of CQD graphitization and plays an essential role in the functionalization of CQDs with oxygen groups. Due to the low toxicity of CQDs against HeLa cancer cells (cell viability above 90% at a CQD concentration of 200 μg cm⁻³) and the ability to penetrate cells and emit blue light, CQDs are possibly suitable for biological imaging of cells.     

An Efficient Templating Approach for the Synthesis of Redispersible Size‐Controllable Carbon Quantum Dots from Graphitic Polymeric Micelles

Access to high‐quality, easily dispersible carbon quantum dots (CQDs) is essential in order to fully exploit their desirable properties. Copolymers based on N‐acryloyl‐D ‐glucosamine and acrylic acid prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization are self‐assembled into micelle‐like nanoreactors. After a facile graphitization process (170 °C, atmospheric pressure), each micellar template is transformed into a CQD through a 1:1 copy process. These high‐quality CQDs (quantum yield=22 %) with tunable sizes (2–5 nm) are decorated by carboxylic acid moieties and can be spontaneously redispersed in water and polar organic solvents. This preparation method renders the mass production of multifunctional CQDs possible. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, CQDs hybridized TiO₂ nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible‐light have been prepared.     

A Review on Carbon Quantum Dot Based Semiconductor Photocatalysts for the Abatement of Refractory Pollutants

Photocatalysis is a green approach frequently utilised to eliminate a variety of environmentally hazardous refractory pollutants. Accordingly, the modification of semiconductor photocatalysts with Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) is of great importance for the treatment of such pollutants due to their attractive physical and chemical properties. CQDs are a perfect candidate to handle photocatalysts of high-performance since they operate as co-catalysts and as visible light harvesters. The higher separation rate of electron-hole pairs in the photocatalytic system is attributable to better photodegradation efficiency. This review classifies CQD based photocatalysts as pure, doped and composite materials and discusses the specific advantages of CQDs in visible light-driven photocatalysis. In this work, the versatile roles of CQDs in CQD-based photocatalytic systems are thoroughly discussed and summarised.     

贫PbI2基体的胶体量子点固体用于高效红外太阳能电池(英文)

胶体量子点(CQD)具有优异的红外光吸收能力和光谱可调特性,是用于制备高效太阳能电池最有前途的红外光电材料之一。然而,以醋酸铵(AA)为添加剂的液相配体交换会导致CQD固体中产生宽带隙PbI₂基质,其将作为电荷传输势垒,在很大程度上影响了CQD太阳能电池(CQDSC)中载流子的提取,从而影响了光伏性能。本文报道利用二甲基碘化铵(DMAI)调节CQD配体交换过程,使载流子在CQD固体中的传输势垒大幅降低。通过对CQD固体进行全面的表征和理论计算,充分揭示了DMAI和CQD之间的相互作用。结果表明,通过DMAI调节CQD配体交换过程,使CQD固体均匀堆积,提高了载流子输运性能,并且陷阱辅助复合受到显著抑制。因此,CQDSC器件中的载流子提取得到了大幅提高,能量转换效率(PCE)比用AA制备的CQDSC器件提高了17.8%。此工作为调控CQD表面化学特性提供了新的研究思路,并为降低CQD固体中载流子输运的势垒提供了可行的方法。     

Surface and Interface Chemistry in Colloidal Quantum Dots for Solar Applications Studied by X‐Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Control of the surface and interface chemistry of colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) is critical to achieving a product with good air stability and high performing optoelectronic devices. Through various surface passivation treatments, vast improvements have been made in fields such as CQD photovoltaics; however devices have not currently reached commercial standards. We show how X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can provide a better understanding of exactly how surface treatments act on CQD surfaces, and the effect of surface composition on air stability and device performance.. We illustrate this with PbS‐based CQDs, using XPS to measure oxidation processes, and to quantify the composition of the topmost surface layer after different surface treatments. We also demonstrate the use of synchrotron radiation‐excited depth‐profiling XPS, a powerful technique for determining the surface composition, chemistry and structure of CQDs. This review describes our recent progress in characterization of CQD surfaces using SR‐excited depth profiling XPS and other photoemission techniques.     

Bio-safety assessment of carbon quantum dots,N-doped and folic acid modified carbon quantum dots: A systemic comparison

The carbon quantum dots(CQDs) and their functionalized materials are promising in biomedical field because of their unique properties;meanwhile,a growing concern has been raised about the potential toxicity of these modified materials in biosystem.In this study,we synthesized original CQDs and two common functionalized CQDs including N-doped CQDs(NCQDs) and folic acid-modified CQDs(FACQDs),and compared the toxicity and biocompatibility with each other in vitro and in vivo.L929,C6 and normal cell MDCK were selected to detect the adverse reaction of these materials in vitro.No acute toxicity or obvious changes were noted from in vitro cytotoxicity studies with the dose of these CQD materials increasing to a high concentration at 1 mg/mL.Among these materials,the FA-CQDs show a much lower toxicity.Moreover,in vivo toxicity studies were performed on the nude mice for 15 days.The experimental animals in 10 or 15 mg/kg groups were similar with animals treated by phosphate buffer solution(PBS) after 15 days.The results of the multifa rious biochemical parameters also suggest that the functionalized products of CQDs do not influence the biological indicators at feasible concentration.Our findings in vitro and in vivo through toxicity tests demonstrate that CQDs and their modified materials are safe for future biological applications.     

Clean Donor Oxidation Enhances the H2 Evolution Activity of a Carbon Quantum Dot–Molecular Catalyst Photosystem

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are new‐generation light absorbers for photocatalytic H₂ evolution in aqueous solution, but the performance of CQD‐molecular catalyst systems is currently limited by the decomposition of the molecular component. Clean oxidation of the electron donor by donor recycling prevents the formation of destructive radical species and non‐innocent oxidation products. This approach allowed a CQD‐molecular nickel bis(diphosphine) photocatalyst system to reach a benchmark lifetime of more than 5 days and a record turnover number of 1094±61 mol_H2 (mol_Ni)^?1 for a defined synthetic molecular nickel catalyst in purely aqueous solution under AM1.5G solar irradiation.     

Carbon Quantum Dot Implanted Graphite Carbon Nitride Nanotubes: Excellent Charge Separation and Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Graphite carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) is a promising candidate for photocatalytic hydrogen production, but only shows moderate activity owing to sluggish photocarrier transfer and insufficient light absorption. Herein, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) implanted in the surface plane of g‐C₃N₄ nanotubes were synthesized by thermal polymerization of freeze‐dried urea and CQDs precursor. The CQD‐implanted g‐C₃N₄ nanotubes (CCTs) could simultaneously facilitate photoelectron transport and suppress charge recombination through their specially coupled heterogeneous interface. The electronic structure and morphology were optimized in the CCTs, contributing to greater visible light absorption and a weakened barrier of the photocarrier transfer. As a result, the CCTs exhibited efficient photocatalytic performance under light irradiation with a high H₂ production rate of 3538.3 μmol g^?1 h^?1 and a notable quantum yield of 10.94 % at 420 nm.     

Enhanced dispersion of CdSe/MEH-CN-PPV hybrid nanocomposites by in situ polymerization using AEM as photopolymerizable precursor

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) can easily become aggregated when blended in a polymer matrix. Although several techniques have been reported to prepare dispersed CQDs in a polymer matrix, the novel approach of this work is to obtain well-dispersed CQD–polymer nanocomposites through the in situ photopolymerization of a third source, thereby broadening the material selection available for such nanocomposites. Therefore, dispersed CQD–polymer nanocomposites were prepared by the photopolymerization of 2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (AEM) precursor in a blend of trioctyl phosphine oxide-capped CdSe CQDs and poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-α,α′dicyano-p-xylylidene-alt-2,5-dihexyoxy-p-xylylidene) (MEH-CN-PPV). The photopolymerization of AEM was developed for this work in order to prevent possible decomposition of CQDs induced by introducing metallic catalysts or heat and to eliminate the need for further functionalization of CQDs or polymers. The morphology of the photopolymerized CdSe CQD/MEH-CN-PPV/AEM was corroborated by direct observation of the quantum dot dispersion in the resultant sphere-shaped structures via transmission electron microscopy. Photoluminescence quenching and shorter photoluminescence decay lifetime of the MEH-CN-PPV in the photopolymerized nanocomposite were observed, indicating that the photopolymerized CdSe CQD/MEH-CN-PPV/AEM nanocomposite has an enhanced energy transfer efficiency in comparison to typical aggregated CdSe quantum dot/MEH-CN-PPV nanocomposites as a result of better dispersion.     

Room‐Temperature Solution‐Processed PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are attractive absorber materials for high‐efficiency photovoltaics because of their facile solution processing, bandgap tunability due to quantum confinement effect, and multi‐exciton generation. To date, all published performance records for PbS CQDs solar cells have been based on the conventional hot‐injection synthesis method. This method usually requires relatively strict conditions such as high temperature and the utility of expensive source material (pyrophoric bis(trimethylsilyl) sulfide (TMS‐S)), limiting the potential for large‐scale and low‐cost synthesis of PbS CQDs. Here we report a facile room‐temperature synthetic method to produce high‐quality PbS CQDs through inexpensive ionic source materials including Pb(NO₃)₂ and Na₂S in the presence of triethanolamine (TEA) as the stabilizing ligand. The PbS CQDs were successfully prepared with an average particle size of about 5 nm. Solar cells based on the as‐synthesized PbS CQDs show a preliminary power conversion efficiency of 1.82%. This room‐temperature and low‐cost synthesis of PbS CQDs will further benefit the development of solution‐processed CQD solar cells.     

Electrochemistry in Carbon‐based Quantum Dots

Electrochemistry belongs to an important branch of chemistry that deals with the chemical changes produced by electricity and the production of electricity by chemical changes. Therefore, it can not only act a powerful tool for materials synthesis, but also offer an effective platform for sensing and catalysis. As extraordinary zero‐dimensional materials, carbon‐based quantum dots (CQDs) have been attracting tremendous attention due to their excellent properties such as good chemical stability, environmental friendliness, nontoxicity and abundant resources. Compared with the traditional methods for the preparation of CQDs, electrochemical (EC) methods offer advantages of simple instrumentation, mild reaction conditions, low cost and mass production. In return, CQDs could provide cost‐effective, environmentally friendly, biocompatible, stable and easily‐functionalizable probes, modifiers and catalysts for EC sensing. However, no specific review has been presented to systematically summarize both aspects until now. In this review, the EC preparation methods of CQDs are critically discussed focusing on CQDs. We further emphasize the applications of CQDs in EC sensors, electrocatalysis, biofuel cells and EC flexible devices. This review will further the experimental and theoretical understanding of the challenges and future prospective in this field, open new directions on exploring new advanced CQDs in EC to meet the high demands in diverse applications.     

聚胺界面修饰改善碳量子点可见光光敏化性能

在新兴能源的存储与转化技术中,碳量子点作为新一代光吸收组分得到越来越广泛的关注。然而目前关于对碳量子点复合体系界面的改性,进而有效提高碳量子点光敏化性能的研究还较少。在本研究工作中,我们通过一种简单的静电自组装的方法构建催化体系,碳量子点能够很好地分散在枝状聚乙烯亚胺修饰的二氧化钛表面,其中碳量子点在复合体系中质量分数约为5%(w, mass fraction)时,展现出最优的可见光还原对硝基苯胺的活性。整体活性相比没有经过修饰的二氧化钛/碳量子点复合体系以及作为参比的枝状聚乙烯亚胺修饰的二氧化硅/碳量子点复合体系均有较明显的提高。结构与光谱研究表明,碳量子点与聚乙烯亚胺修饰的二氧化钛形成了较好的界面接触;进一步通过对比二氧化硅复合体系与二氧化钛复合体系表明,枝状聚乙烯亚胺可作为电子传输通道,能够有效地促进光生电子的分离与传递。因此,得益于良好的界面接触与有效地光生载流子的传递,相比未修饰的复合体系,枝状聚乙烯亚胺修饰的二氧化钛/碳量子点展现出更好地光催化反应活性。此研究工作中界面优化的手段,可将二氧化钛/碳量子点复合体系进一步拓展到其他宽带隙半导体光催化体系并设计构建有效的碳量子点基的半导体光吸收体系。     

Dendronized Cellulose Nanocrystals as Templates for Preparation of ZnS and CdS Quantum Dots

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) isolated from bleached bagasse pulp were modified with a second-generation isocyanate dendron (G2-dendron) to prepare dendronized cellulose nanocrystals (DCN). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental analysis for nitrogen, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹³C magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C MAS NMR) proved occurrence of the modification of cellulose nanocrystals surfaces. The dendronized cellulose nanocrystals were used as templates for formation of ZnS and CdS quantum dots with uniform diameter at low temperature in water. The prepared DCN/QDs were highly soluble in water. TEM images showed that the size of the prepared quantum dots was about 5 nm in diameter. UV-Visible and fluorescence spectroscopy showed absorption and emission at wavelength values lower than that reported for bulk ZnS and CdS.     

Kilogram-scale synthesis of carbon quantum dots for hydrogen evolution,sensing and bioimaging

A facile, low-cost, green, kilogram-scale synthesis of high quality CQDs were synthesized. The throughput of CQDs is 1.4975 kg in one pot and the as-prepared CQDs have a highly crystalline hexagonal structure with remarkable solubility, stability, and biocompatibility. It showed outstanding electrocatalytic activity, Fe³⁺ sensitivity and good biocompatibility.     

基于上转换发光的碳量子点制备及应用研究

碳量子点具有易制备、低毒性、化学惰性高、荧光特性稳定等特点,和其他碳纳米材料(如富勒烯、碳纳米管和石墨烯等)一样引起了研究者的广泛关注。本文将从碳量子点的合成、特性、改性和应用等方面进行阐述,并对其受长波长光激发后可发出短波长光的这一上转换发光特性进行重点综述,为今后碳量子点的合成、改性以及应用提供一定的参考。     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Carbon Quantum Dots and Their Nontoxic Ingestion by Zebrafish for In Vivo Imaging

Photoluminescent carbon and/or silicon‐based nanodots have attracted ever increasing interest. Accordingly, a myriad of synthetic methodologies have been developed to fabricate them, which unfortunately, however, frequently involve relatively tedious steps, such as initial surface passivation and subsequent functionalization. Herein, we describe a green and sustainable synthetic strategy to combine these procedures into one step and to produce highly luminescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs), which can also be easily fabricated into flexible thin films with intense luminescence for future roll‐to‐roll manufacturing of optoelectronic devices. The as‐synthesized CQDs exhibited enhanced cellular permeability and low or even noncytotoxicity for cellular applications, as corroborated by confocal fluorescence imaging of HeLa cells as well as cell viability measurements. Most strikingly, zebrafish were directly fed with CQDs for in vivo imaging, and mortality and morphologic analysis indicated ingestion of the CQDs posed no harm to the living organisms. Hence, the multifunctional CQDs potentially provide a rich pool of tools for optoelectronic and biomedical applications.     

野酸枣氮掺杂荧光碳量子点高灵敏检测Hg2+

以天然产物野酸枣和色氨酸为原料,通过水热法一步合成量子产率为16.9%的氮掺杂荧光碳量子点。该碳量子点具有良好的水溶性和耐光性,在高盐环境中也呈现出了较高的稳定性。应用荧光光谱、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)对碳量子点进行了表征。此外,Hg^2+能够有效地猝灭碳量子点的荧光,猝灭机理为电子转移的动态猝灭。基于此,可将碳量子点作为荧光探针检测Hg^2+。方法对Hg^2+的检测范围为1~50 nmol/L,检出限为0.26 nmol/L,能够应用于实际水样中Hg2+含量的测定。     

Kilogram-scale synthesis of carbon quantum dots for hydrogen evolution,sensing and bioimaging

The development of large-scale synthetic methods for high quality carbon quantum dots (CQDs) is fundamental to their applications. However, the macroscopic preparation and scale up synthetic of CQDs is still in its infancy. Here, we report a facile, green, kilogram-scale synthesis of high quality fluorescent CQDs derived from poplar leaves via a one-step hydrothermal method. Notably, the throughput of CQDs can reach a level up to as high as 1.4975 kg in one pot. The structure and properties of the as-prepared CQDs were assessed through TEM, XRD, XPS and various spectroscopic methods. The obtained high quality CQDs with a photoluminescent quantum yield of 10.64% showed remarkable stability in aqueous media, rich functional groups, high photostability, consistent photoluminescence within biological pH range and low cytotoxicity. On account of these good properties, we demonstrated the multifunctional application to electrocatalytic water splitting, Fe³⁺ sensing and bioimaging. It showed remarkable electrocatalytic activity, Fe³⁺ sensitivity and good biocompatibility. This study provides a green, facile, inexpensive and large-scale method for producing high quality CQDs, which provides application value for large-scale production of CQDs.     

碳量子点的制备及其在能源与环境领域应用进展

碳量子点(carbon quantum dots,CQDs)作为碳纳米材料家族的新成员引起了科学家广泛关注和极大的研究兴趣。 CQDs具有优良的光学特性、生物相容性及微弱的细胞毒性,在生物医药、生物传感器及光电子设备、环境及能源等领域中具有重要的应用。 本文从CQDs的制备方法出发,介绍了近年来发展的新型制备方法,讨论了其优缺点以及对所得CQDs在组成、结构和性质等方面的影响;基于CQDs独特的光学及电化学性能,重点介绍了CQDs在环境与能源领域的应用。 此外,对CQDs研究过程中存在的若干挑战进行了分析,提出了未来发展的一些思考和建议,为拓展CQDs多方面应用提供重要参考。     

One‐Pot Green Synthesis of Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Quantum Dots for Cell Nucleus Labeling and Copper(II) Detection

The doping of nitrogen into carbon quantum dots is vitally important for improved fluorescence performance. However, the synthesis of nitrogen‐doped carbon quantum dots (N‐CQDs) is usually conducted under strong acid and high temperature, which results in environmental pollution and energy consumption. Herein, the N‐CQDs were prepared by a mild one‐pot hydrothermal process. The hydrothermal reaction temperature was adjusted to control the particle size, nitrogen/carbon atomic ratio, and quantum yield. The products were water soluble with a narrow particle size distribution and good dispersion stability over a wide pH range. The N‐CQDs could penetrate into the HeLa cell nucleus without any further functionalization. Moreover, the fluorescence of N‐CQDs could be selectively quenched by Cu²⁺, which suggested applications for the detection of Cu²⁺ in human plasma.