Novel report on biosynthesis of water soluble carbon dots using plant source
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Prominent green fluorescence under UV light
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Highly biocompatible nanoparticles against MDCK cells
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Excellent imaging properties under fluorescent light
Abstract
We are reporting highly economical plant based method for the production of luminescent water soluble carbon dots (C-dot) using Indian water plant Trapa bispinosa peel extract without adding any external oxidizing agent at 90 °C. C-dots ranging from 5 to 10 nm were found in the solution with a prominent green fluorescence under UV-light (λex = 365 nm). UV–vis spectra recorded at different time intervals (30–120 min) displayed signature absorption of C-dots between 400 and 600 nm. Fluorescence spectra of the dispersion after 120 min of synthesis exhibited characteristic emission peaks of C-dots when excited at 350, 400, 450 and 500 nm. C-dots were further analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy and Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). Structure of the C-dots was found to be turbostratic when studied using XRD. C-dots synthesized by our method were found to be exceptionally biocompatible against MDCK cells.