Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nanosized carbon dots from organic matter and biomass

  • Advanced materials
  • Published:
Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Mater. Sci. Ed. Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Carbon nanoparticles (C-dots) were prepared by refluxing the combustion soots of candles and corn stalk in nitric acid. The synthesized C-dots were characterized. The results showed a sharp increase in oxygen content and a sharp decrease in carbon content after oxidation. The C-dots had -OH and -CO2H groups introduced which made them hydrophilic. However, their difference was also obvious. The C-dots from candle soot had a 10-45 nm broad particle size distribution, and those from corn stalk soot had a 6-18 nm relatively small and narrow size distribution. The C-dots were mainly of sp 2 and sp 3 carbon structure different from the C-dots of diamond-like structure from candle soot. Interestingly, two kinds of C-dots all exhibited unique photoluminescent properties. The obtained C-dots have potential applications in a broad range of areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baker SN, Baker GA. Luminescent Carbon Nanodots: Emergent Nanolights[J]. Angew. Chem. Int. Edit., 2010, 49: 6726–6744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. John CV. Luis AC. Fractionation of Carbon-based Nanomaterials by Anion-exchange[J]. Anal. Chem., 2012, 84(2): 1178–1183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sun YP, Zhou B, Lin Y, et al. Quantum-sized Carbon Dots for Bright and Colorful Photoluminescence[J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 128(24): 756–7757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Liu HP, Ye T, Mao CD. Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles Derived from Candle Soot[J]. Angew. Chem. Int. Edit., 2007, 46: 6473–6457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ray SC, Saha A, Jana NR, et al. Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Bioimaging Application[J]. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2009, 113(43): 18546–18551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Yang ST, Wang X, Wang H, et al. Carbon Dots as Nontoxic and Highperformance Fluorescence Imaging Agents[J]. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2009, 2113(43): 18110–18114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yang ST, Cao L, Luo PG, et al. Carbon Dots for Optical Imaging in vivo[J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131(32): 11308–11309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cao L, Wang X, Meziani MJ, et al. Carbon Dots for Multiphoton Bioimaging[J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129: 11318–11319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Liu R, Wu D, Liu S, et al. An Aqueous Route to Multicolor Photoluminescent Carbon Dots Using Silica Spheres as Carriers[J]. Angew. Chem. Int. Edit., 2009, 48: 4598–4601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen RJ, Bangsaruntip S, Drouvalakis KA, et al. Noncovalent Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes for Highly Specific Biosensors[J]. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. the USA, 2003, 100: 4984–4989

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Park KH, Chhowalla M, Iqbal Z, et al. Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes Are a New Class of Ion Channel Blockers[J]. J. Biol. Chem., 2003, 278: 50212–50216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Wang HB, Thoss M. Multilayer Formulation of the Multiconfiguration Time-dependent Hartree Theory[J]. J. Chem. Phys., 2003, 119: 1289–1299

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mitchell DT, Lee SB, Trofin LL, et al. Smart Nanotubes for Bioseparations and Biocatalysis[J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2002, 124: 11864–11865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Guan B, Zou F, Zhi J. Nanodiamond as The pH-responsive Vehicle for An Anticancer drug[J]. Small, 2010, 6: 1514–1519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Chang YR, Lee HY, Chen K, et al. Mass Production and Dynamic Imaging of Fluorescent Nanodiamonds[J]. Nat. Nanotechnol., 2008, 3: 284–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sun YP, Zhou B, Lin Y, et al. Pyrolytic Formation and Photoluminescence Properties of A New Layered Carbonaceous Material with Graphite Oxide-mimicking Characteristics[J]. Carbon, 2009, 47: 519–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hu SL, Niu KY, Sun J, et al. One-step Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles by Laser Irradiation[J]. J. Mat. Chem., 2009, 19: 484–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Neugart F, Zappe A, Jelezko F, et al. Dynamics of Diamond Nanoparticles in Solution and Cells[J]. Nano lett., 2007, 7: 3588–3591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Yu SJ, Kang MW, Chang HC, et al. Bright Fluorescent Nanodiamonds:? No Photobleaching and Low Cytotoxicity[J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127: 17604–17605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Batalov A, Jacques V, Kaiser F, et al. Low Temperature Studies of the Excited-state Structure of Negatively Charged Nitrogen-vacancy Color Centers in Diamond[J]. Phys. Rev. Lett., 2009,102: 195506–195510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhao QL, Zhang ZL, Huang BH, et al. Facile Preparation of Low Cytotoxicity Fluorescent Carbon Nanocrystals by Electrooxidation of Graphite[J]. Chem. Commun., 2008,41: 5116–5118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Selvi BR, Jagadeesan D, Suma BS, et al. Intrinsically Fluorescent Carbon Nanospheres as A Nuclear Targeting Vector: Delivery of Membrane-impermeable Molecule to Modulate Gene Expression in Vivo[J]. Nano. Lett., 2008, 8: 3182–3188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Bourlinos AB, Stassinopoulos A, Anglos D, et al. Photoluminescent Carbogenic Dots[J]. Chem. Mater., 2008, 20: 4539–4541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Tian L, Ghosh D, Chen W, et al. Nanosized Carbon Particles from Natural Gas Soot[J]. Chem. Mater., 2009, 21: 2803–2809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Liu Y, Wu P. Graphene Quantum Dot Hybrids as Efficient Metal-free Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction[J]. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2013, 5(8): 3362–3369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Sun D, Ban R, Zhang PH, et al. Hair Fiber as a Precursor for Synthesizing of Sulfur-and Nitrogen-co-doped Carbon Dots with Tunable Luminescence Properties[J]. Carbon, 2013, 64: 424–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Yang YH, Cui JH, Zheng MT, et al. One Step Synthesis of Aminofunctionalized Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles by Hydrothermal Carbonization of Chitosan[J]. Chem. Commun., 2012, 48(3): 380–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Li L, Wu G, Yang G, et al. Focusing on Luminescent Graphene Quantum Dots: Current Status and Future Perspectives[J]. Nanoscale, 2013, 5(10): 4015–4039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Xu J, Zhou Y, Liu S, et al. Low-cost Synthesis of Carbon Nanodots from Natural Products as Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Ferrum (III) Ion in Lake Water[J]. Anal. Methods, 2014, 6(7): 2086–2090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Tang L, Ji R, Cao X, et al. Deep Ultraviolet Photoluminescence of Water-soluble Self-passivated Graphene Quantum Dots[J]. ACS Nano, 2012, 6(6): 5102–5110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Wu MB, Wang Y, Wu WT, et al. Preparation of Functionalized Watersoluble Photoluminescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Petroleum Coke[J]. Corbon, 2014, 78: 480–489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Rahy A, Zhou C, Zheng J, et al. Photoluminescent Carbon Nanoparticles Produced by Confined Combustion of Aromatic Compounds[J]. Carbon, 2012, 50(3): 1298–1302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Liang Q, Ma W, Shi YV, et al. Easy Synthesis of Highly Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Gelatin and Their Luminescent Properties and Applications[J]. Carbon, 2013, 60: 421–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Liao B, Long P, He B, et al. Reversible Fluorescence Modulation of Spiropyran-functionalized Carbon Nanoparticles[J]. J. Mater. Chem. C, 2013, 1(23): 3716–3721

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China

    Yuanyuan Li  (李媛媛) & Yulong Ma

  2. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China

    Yuanyuan Li  (李媛媛) & Yulong Ma

  3. Zhenjiang Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhenjiang, 212008, China

    Tong Chen

Authors
  1. Yuanyuan Li  (李媛媛)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tong Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yulong Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuanyuan Li  (李媛媛).

Additional information

Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21465019 and 21266023), the Ningxia Natural Science Founds (NZ13011), the Research Project for Science and Technology of Higher Education of Ningxia Provine of China (NGY2014011), the Science and Technology Planning Project of Jiangsu Entry-exit Inspection Quarantine Bureauof China (2016KJ50) and the Zhenjiang Social Development Project (SH2014021)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, Y., Chen, T. & Ma, Y. Nanosized carbon dots from organic matter and biomass. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol.-Mat. Sci. Edit. 31, 823–826 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-016-1452-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-016-1452-2

Key words

Search

Navigation