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Title: Synthesis of Carbon Dots with Multiple Color Emission by Controlled Graphitization and Surface Functionalization

Journal Article · · Advanced Materials
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [4]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Beijing Univ. of Technology (China). Beijing Key Lab. for Green Catalysis and Separation. Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. College of Environmental and Energy Engineering; Changchun Inst. of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (China). State Key Lab. of Luminescence and Applications; Univ. of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China)
  2. Beijing Univ. of Technology (China). Beijing Key Lab. for Green Catalysis and Separation. Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. College of Environmental and Energy Engineering
  3. Beijing Univ. of Technology (China). Beijing Key Lab. for Green Catalysis and Separation. Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. College of Environmental and Energy Engineering; Beijing Guangqumen High School (China)
  4. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Abstract Multiple‐color‐emissive carbon dots (CDots) have potential applications in various fields such as bioimaging, light‐emitting devices, and photocatalysis. The majority of the current CDots to date exhibit excitation‐wavelength‐dependent emissions with their maximum emission limited at the blue‐light region. Here, a synthesis of multiple‐color‐emission CDots by controlled graphitization and surface function is reported. The CDots are synthesized through controlled thermal pyrolysis of citric acid and urea. By regulating the thermal‐pyrolysis temperature and ratio of reactants, the maximum emission of the resulting CDots gradually shifts from blue to red light, covering the entire light spectrum. Specifically, the emission position of the CDots can be tuned from 430 to 630 nm through controlling the extent of graphitization and the amount of surface functional groups, COOH. The relative photoluminescence quantum yields of the CDots with blue, green, and red emission reach up to 52.6%, 35.1%, and 12.9%, respectively. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the CDots can be uniformly dispersed into epoxy resins and be fabricated as transparent CDots/epoxy composites for multiple‐color‐ and white‐light‐emitting devices. This research opens a door for developing low‐cost CDots as alternative phosphors for light‐emitting devices.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Beijing Univ. of Technology (China); Changchun Inst. of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (China); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Beijing High Talent Program (China); Beijing Natural Science Foundation (China); China Postdoctoral Science Foundation; Beijing Postdoctoral Research Foundation (China); Dongguan Program for International S&T Cooperation (China)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003525; 21671011; KZ201710005002; 2015508102006
OSTI ID:
1469628
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1410375
Report Number(s):
SAND-2018-9737J; 667622
Journal Information:
Advanced Materials, Vol. 30, Issue 1; ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 353 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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