A review of fluorescent carbon dots: synthesis, photoluminescence mechanism, solid-state photoluminescence and applications in white light-emitting diodes

Rad, 2021, Tunable carbon-CsPbI3 quantum dots for white LEDs[J], Advanced Optical Materials, 9, 10.1002/adom.202001508 Zheng, 2020, An efficient synthesis and photoelectric properties of green carbon quantum dots with high fluorescent quantum yield[J], Nanomaterials, 10, 82, 10.3390/nano10010082 Du, 2018, The synthesis of green fluorescent carbon dots for warm white LEDs[J], RSC Advances, 8, 19585, 10.1039/C8RA02226G Li, 2021, Dual-emission ratiometric fluorescent probe based on lanthanide-functionalized carbon quantum dots for white light emission and chemical sensing[J], ACS Omega, 6, 14629, 10.1021/acsomega.1c01745 Xu, 2004, Electrophoretic analysis and purification of fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotube fragments[J], Journal of the American Chemical Society, 126, 12736, 10.1021/ja040082h Hu, 2019, Nitrogen and chlorine dual-doped carbon nanodots for determination of curcumin in food matrix via inner filter effect[J], Food Chemistry, 280, 195, 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.12.050 Zhang, 2018, Rapid synthesis of N, S co-doped carbon dots and their application for Fe3+ ion detection[J], Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 20, 1, 10.1007/s11051-018-4141-6 Alizadeh, 2020, A strategy for visual optical determination of glucose based on a smartphone device using fluorescent boron-doped carbon nanoparticles as a light-up probe[J], Microchimica Acta, 187, 1, 10.1007/s00604-019-3871-1 Tomskaya, 2020, Structural and optical properties of N-doped and B-doped carbon dots[J], Journal of Structural Chemistry, 61, 818, 10.1134/S0022476620050194 Sun, 2019, Highly luminescence manganese doped carbon dots[J], Chinese Chemical Letters, 30, 1051, 10.1016/j.cclet.2019.01.014 Li, 2017, Exceptionally high payload of the IR780 iodide on folic acid-functionalized graphene quantum dots for targeted photothermal therapy[J], ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 9, 22332, 10.1021/acsami.7b07267 Zhu, 2023, β-Cyclodextrin derived full-spectrum fluorescent carbon dots: The formation process investigation and biological applications [J], Chinese Chemical Letters Yuan, 2018, Nitrogen-rich D-π-A structural carbon quantum dots with a bright two-photon fluorescence for deep-tissue imaging[J], ACS Applied Bio Materials, 1, 853, 10.1021/acsabm.8b00276 Liu, 2019, Preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon dots with a high fluorescence quantum yield for the highly sensitive detection of Cu2+ ions, drawing anti-counterfeit patterns and imaging live cells[J], New Carbon Materials, 34, 390, 10.1016/S1872-5805(19)30024-1 Quang, 2022, Hydrothermal synthesis of carbon nanodots from waste wine cork and their use in biocompatible fluorescence imaging[J], New Carbon Materials, 37, 595, 10.1016/S1872-5805(22)60608-5 Yue, 2019, Ratiometric fluorescence based on silver clusters and N, Fe doped carbon dots for determination of H2O2 and UA: N, Fe doped carbon dots as mimetic peroxidase[J], Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 287, 408, 10.1016/j.snb.2019.02.060 Rao, 2017, Efficient synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon dots by microreactor method and their application in Fe3+ ion detection[J], Materials Science and Engineering: C, 81, 213, 10.1016/j.msec.2017.07.046 Liang, 2020, Nitrogen-doped carbon dots used as an “on-off-on” fluorescent sensor for Fe3+ and glutathione detection[J], Dyes and Pigments, 178, 10.1016/j.dyepig.2020.108358 Zhao, 2019, Multi-color fluorescent carbon dots with single wavelength excitation for white light-emitting diodes[J], Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 793, 613, 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.04.146 Hsiao, 2023, Balance of photon management and charge collection from carbon-quantum-dot layers as self-powered broadband photodetectors[J], Nanoscale Advances, 5, 1086, 10.1039/D2NA00852A Kar, 2023, Photoluminescence and lifetime studies of C-dot decorated CdS/ZnFe2O4 composite designed for photoelectrochemical applications[J], Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 439, 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2023.114612 Zu, 2017, The quenching of the fluorescence of carbon dots: a review on mechanisms and applications[J], Microchimica Acta, 184, 1899, 10.1007/s00604-017-2318-9 Xue, 2023, The formation process and mechanism of carbon dots prepared from aromatic compounds as precursors: a review [J], Small de Medeiros, 2019, Microwave-assisted synthesis of carbon dots and their applications[J], Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 7, 7175, 10.1039/C9TC01640F Wang, 2019, A mini review on carbon quantum dots: Preparation, properties, and electrocatalytic application[J], Frontiers in Chemistry, 7, 671, 10.3389/fchem.2019.00671 Zhang, 2019, Coal-derived graphene quantum dots produced by ultrasonic physical tailoring and their capacity for Cu (II) detection[J], ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7, 9793, 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b06792 Dey, 2014, Luminescence properties of boron and nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots prepared from arc-discharge-generated doped graphene samples[J], Chemical Physics Letters, 595, 203, 10.1016/j.cplett.2014.02.012 Sun, 2006, Quantum-sized carbon dots for bright and colorful photoluminescence[J], Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128, 7756, 10.1021/ja062677d Cao, 2007, Carbon dots for multiphoton bioimaging[J], Journal of the American Chemical Society, 129, 11318, 10.1021/ja073527l Yang, 2009, Carbon dots as nontoxic and high-performance fluorescence imaging agents[J], The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 113, 18110, 10.1021/jp9085969 Hu, 2009, One-step synthesis of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles by laser irradiation[J], Journal of Materials Chemistry, 19, 484, 10.1039/B812943F Borna, 2021, Synthesis of carbon quantum dots from apple juice and graphite: Investigation of fluorescence and structural properties and use as an electrochemical sensor for measuring Letrozole[J], Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 32, 10866 Lee, 2022, Electrochemical synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots for the selective detection of chlortetracycline[J], Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10, 10.1016/j.jece.2022.107413 Ran, 2022, A thermal-assisted electrochemical strategy to synthesize carbon dots with bimodal photoluminescence emission[J], Carbon, 193, 404, 10.1016/j.carbon.2022.03.041 Liu, 2016, Carbon quantum dots directly generated from electrochemical oxidation of graphite electrodes in alkaline alcohols and the applications for specific ferric ion detection and cell imaging[J], Analyst, 141, 2657, 10.1039/C5AN02231B Liu, 2021, Boron and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots for boosting electrocatalytic oxygen reduction[J], New Carbon Materials, 36, 585, 10.1016/S1872-5805(21)60043-4 Miao, 2018, Synthesis of carbon dots with multiple color emission by controlled graphitization and surface functionalization[J], Advanced Materials, 30 Yu, 2022, A facile preparation of multicolor carbon dots[J], Nanoscale Research Letters, 17, 32, 10.1186/s11671-022-03661-z Zhao, 2023, A multi-color carbon quantum dots based on the coordinated effect of quantum size and surface defects with green synthesis [J], Ceramics International Zhang, 2023, Rapid and sensitive detection of methyl parathion in rice based on carbon quantum dots nano-fluorescence probe and inner filter effect[J], Food Chemistry, 413, 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135679 Wang, 2023, Preparation of carbon dots from PET waste by one-step hydrothermal method and its application in light blocking films and LEDs [J], Journal of Fluorescence, 1 Fang, 2021, Carbon quantum dots: Synthesis and correlation of luminescence behavior with microstructure[J], New Carbon Materials, 36, 625, 10.1016/S1872-5805(21)60031-8 Li, 2021, Near-infrared emission carbon dots for bio-imaging applications[J], New Carbon Materials, 36, 632, 10.1016/S1872-5805(21)60041-0 Yuan, 2019, Highly efficient and stable white LEDs based on pure red narrow bandwidth emission triangular carbon quantum dots for wide-color gamut backlight displays[J], Nano Research, 12, 1669, 10.1007/s12274-019-2420-x Li, 2023, Green and rapid synthesis of biomass carbon dot-based fluorescence sensing for the sensitive determination of oxytetracycline[J], Analytical Methods, 15, 1569, 10.1039/D2AY02031A Zheng, 2023, Rapid preparation of N, B-codoped carbon quantum dot based films with strong two-photon absorption and optical limiting effect[J], Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 11, 3342, 10.1039/D2TC05106K Liu, 2015, Microwave-assisted synthesis of wavelength-tunable photoluminescent carbon nanodots and their potential applications[J], ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 7, 4913, 10.1021/am508994w Zheng, 2017, Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of solid-state carbon dots with intensive emission for white light-emitting devices[J], Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 5, 8105, 10.1039/C7TC01701D Qiu, 2022, Green-light-emitting carbon dots via eco-friendly route and their potential in ferric-ion detection and WLEDs[J], Materials Advances, 3, 7339, 10.1039/D2MA00520D Liu, 2021, Facile synthesis of magneto-fluorescent carbon dots by one-step microwave-assisted pyrolysis[J], Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 855, 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.157456 Ahlawat, 2023, Facile synthesis of carbon dots via pyrolysis and their application in photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) [J], Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1 Chen, 2022, Solvent-free pyrolysis strategy for the preparation of biomass carbon dots for the selective detection of Fe3+ ions [J], Frontiers in Chemistry, 10 Guo, 2012, Facile access to versatile fluorescent carbon dots toward light-emitting diodes[J], Chemical Communications, 48, 2692, 10.1039/c2cc17769b Li, 2022, Electrochemiluminescence detection of Cu2+ ions by nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots and zinc oxide composites[J], Microchemical Journal, 183, 10.1016/j.microc.2022.108073 Cardoso, 2022, Carbon dots as reactive nitrogen species nanosensors[J], Analytica Chimica Acta, 1202, 10.1016/j.aca.2022.339654 Zhu, 2015, The photoluminescence mechanism in carbon dots (graphene quantum dots, carbon nanodots, and polymer dots): current state and future perspective[J], Nano Research, 8, 355, 10.1007/s12274-014-0644-3 Eda, 2010, Blue photoluminescence from chemically derived graphene oxide[J], Advanced Materials, 22, 505, 10.1002/adma.200901996 Yuan, 2018, Engineering triangular carbon quantum dots with unprecedented narrow bandwidth emission for multicolored LEDs[J], Nature Communications, 9, 10.1038/s41467-018-04635-5 Ding, 2016, Full-color light-emitting carbon dots with a surface-state-controlled luminescence mechanism[J], ACS Nano, 10, 484, 10.1021/acsnano.5b05406 Wang, 2018, Effects of C-related dangling bonds and functional groups on the fluorescent and electrochemiluminescent properties of carbon-based dots[J], Chemistry–A European Journal, 24, 4250, 10.1002/chem.201706078 Ding, 2019, Direct blending of multicolor carbon quantum dots into fluorescent films for white light emitting diodes with an adjustable correlated color temperature[J], Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 7, 1502, 10.1039/C8TC04887H Fang, 2017, Luminescence origin of carbon based dots obtained from citric acid and amino group-containing molecules[J], Carbon, 118, 319, 10.1016/j.carbon.2017.03.061 Song, 2015, Investigation from chemical structure to photoluminescent mechanism: A type of carbon dots from the pyrolysis of citric acid and an amine[J], Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 3, 5976, 10.1039/C5TC00813A Li, 2019, Non-metal-heteroatom-doped carbon dots: Synthesis and properties[J], Chemistry-A European Journal, 25, 1165, 10.1002/chem.201802793 Zhu, 2013, Highly photoluminescent carbon dots for multicolor patterning, sensors, and bioimaging[J], Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 52, 3953, 10.1002/anie.201300519 Hu, 2015, Tunable photoluminescence across the entire visible spectrum from carbon dots excited by white light[J], Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 54, 2970, 10.1002/anie.201411004 Hola, 2017, Graphitic nitrogen triggers red fluorescence in carbon dots[J], ACS Nano, 11, 12402, 10.1021/acsnano.7b06399 Wu, 2017, Carbon dots: Materials, synthesis, properties and approaches to long-wavelength and multicolor emission[J], Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 5, 3794, 10.1039/C7TB00363C Xu, 2020, Carbon-based quantum dots with solid-state photoluminescent: Mechanism, implementation, and application[J], Small, 16 Sun, 2014, Towards efficient solid-state photoluminescence based on carbon-nanodots and starch composites[J], Nanoscale, 6, 13076, 10.1039/C4NR04034A Yan, 2022, High stability carbon dots phosphor and ultra-high color rendering index white light-emitting diodes[J], IEEE Photonics Journal, 14, 1, 10.1109/JPHOT.2021.3139107 Zheng, 2018, Rapid and green synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from starch for white light-emitting diodes[J], New Carbon Materials, 33, 276, 10.1016/S1872-5805(18)60339-7 Zheng, 2017, Facile synthesis of highly graphitized nitrogen-doped carbon dots and carbon sheets with solid-state white-light emission[J], Materials Letters, 195, 58, 10.1016/j.matlet.2017.02.094 Feng, 2015, Luminescent carbon quantum dots with high quantum yield as a single white converter for white light emitting diodes[J], Applied Physics Letters, 107, 10.1063/1.4936234 Wang, 2020, Highly luminescent solid-state carbon dots embedded in a boric acid matrix[J], ChemistrySelect, 5, 13969, 10.1002/slct.202004009 Wu, 2021, Solid-state photoluminescent silicone-carbon dots/dendrimer composites for highly efficient luminescent solar concentrators[J], Chemical Engineering Journal, 422, 10.1016/j.cej.2021.130158 Cao, 2019, A yellow carbon dots-based phosphor with high efficiency for white light-emitting devices[J], Journal of Luminescence, 206, 97, 10.1016/j.jlumin.2018.10.056 Sun, 2020, Efficient full-color emitting carbon-dot-based composite phosphors by chemical dispersion[J], Nanoscale, 12, 15823, 10.1039/D0NR02021D Cao, 2021, A novel and highly stable dual-emission carbon dots-based phosphor[J], Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 873, 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.159819 Lee, 2021, Carbon dots for epoxy curing: Anti-forgery patterns with long-term luminescent stability[J], Chemical Engineering Journal, 405, 10.1016/j.cej.2020.126988 Barman, 2021, Carbon dot/cellulose-based transparent films for efficient UV and high-energy blue light screening[J], ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9, 9879, 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c02791 Mou, 2023, A robust carbon dot-based antibacterial CDs-PVA film as a wound dressing for antibiosis and wound healing[J], Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 11, 1940, 10.1039/D2TB02582E Kumari, 2023, Multicolor-emissive carbon dots for white-light-emitting diodes and room-temperature phosphorescence[J], ACS Applied Nano Materials, 6, 918, 10.1021/acsanm.2c04312 Ai, 2021, Insights into photoluminescence mechanisms of carbon dots: Advances and perspectives[J], Science Bulletin, 66, 839, 10.1016/j.scib.2020.12.015 Li, 2019, Diamond-like carbon structure-doped carbon dots: a new class of self-quenching-resistant solid-state fluorescence materials toward light-emitting diodes[J], Carbon, 149, 342, 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.04.074 Zhou, 2019, Carbon dots produced via space-confined vacuum heating: maintaining efficient luminescence in both dispersed and aggregated states[J], Nanoscale Horizons, 4, 388, 10.1039/C8NH00247A Han, 2021, Solid-state N, P-doped carbon dots conquer aggregation-caused fluorescence quenching and couple with europium metal-organic frameworks toward white light-emitting diodes[J], Dyes and Pigments, 187, 10.1016/j.dyepig.2020.109090 Chen, 2016, A self-quenching-resistant carbon-dot powder with tunable solid-state fluorescence and construction of dual-fluorescence morphologies for white light-emission[J], Advanced Materials, 28, 312, 10.1002/adma.201503380 Zhou, 2018, Hydrogen peroxide-treated carbon dot phosphor with a bathochromic-shifted, aggregation-enhanced emission for light-emitting devices and visible light communication[J], Advanced Science, 5, 10.1002/advs.201800369 Tao, 2021, Na+-functionalized carbon dots with aggregation-induced and enhanced cyan emission[J], Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 588, 469, 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.12.104 Fakharuddin, 2022, Perovskite light-emitting diodes[J], Nature Electronics, 5, 203, 10.1038/s41928-022-00745-7 Li, 2013, Facile plasma-induced fabrication of fluorescent carbon dots toward high-performance white LEDs[J], Journal of Materials Science, 48, 6307, 10.1007/s10853-013-7430-6 Sun, 2015, Combination of carbon dot and polymer dot phosphors for white light-emitting diodes[J], Nanoscale, 7, 12045, 10.1039/C5NR03014E Jiang, 2015, Red, green, and blue luminescence by carbon dots: Full-color emission tuning and multicolor cellular imaging[J], Angewandte Chemie, 127, 5450, 10.1002/ange.201501193 Wang, 2017, 53% efficient red emissive carbon quantum dots for high color rendering and stable warm white-light-emitting diodes[J], Advanced Materials, 29, 10.1002/adma.201702910 Zhai, 2018, Red carbon dots-based phosphors for white light-emitting diodes with color rendering index of 92[J], Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 528, 281, 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.05.101 Chen, 2021, Blue and green double band luminescent carbon quantum dots: Synthesis, origin of photoluminescence, and application in white light-emitting devices[J], Applied Physics Letters, 118, 10.1063/5.0046495 Sun, 2021, Solvent-controlled synthesis strategy of multicolor emission carbon dots and its applications in sensing and light-emitting devices[J], Nano Research, 15, 414, 10.1007/s12274-021-3495-8 Perikala, 2021, Excellent color rendering index single system white light emitting carbon dots for next generation lighting devices[J], Scientific Reports, 11, 1, 10.1038/s41598-021-91074-w Wang, 2022, Ethanol-derived white emissive carbon dots: the formation process investigation and multi-color/white LEDs preparation[J], Nano Research, 15, 942, 10.1007/s12274-021-3579-5 Feng, 2019, A facile approach to solid-state white emissive carbon dots and their application in UV-excitable and single-component-based white LEDs[J], Nanomaterials, 9, 725, 10.3390/nano9050725 Li, 2022, Carbon dots/ZnO quantum dots composite-based white phosphors for white light-emitting diodes[J], Chemical Communications, 58, 1910, 10.1039/D1CC06180A Han, 2022, Multicolor and single-component white light-emitting carbon dots from a single precursor for light-emitting diodes[J], ACS Applied Nano Materials, 5, 15914, 10.1021/acsanm.2c04130 Wang, 2011, White light-emitting devices based on carbon dots’ electroluminescence[J], Chemical Communications, 47, 3502, 10.1039/c0cc05391k Xu, 2018, Carbon dot-based white and yellow electroluminescent light emitting diodes with a record-breaking brightness[J], Nanoscale, 10, 11211, 10.1039/C8NR01834K Wang, 2021, Bright electroluminescent white-light-emitting diodes based on carbon dots with tunable correlated color temperature enabled by aggregation[J], Small, 17, 10.1002/smll.202104551 Zhou, 2022, A novel method for the synthesis of carbon dots assisted by free radicals[J], Nano Research, 15, 9470, 10.1007/s12274-022-4567-0 Yan, 2023, One-step synthesis of white-light-emitting carbon dots for white LEDs with a high color rendering index of 97 [J], Advanced Science, 10.1002/advs.202206386 Zhao, 2021, Fluorescent carbon dots: Fantastic electroluminescent materials for light-emitting diodes[J], Advanced Science, 8, 10.1002/advs.202001977 Jia, 2019, Electroluminescent warm white light-emitting diodes based on passivation enabled bright red bandgap emission carbon quantum dots[J], Advanced Science, 6, 10.1002/advs.201900397