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Nano Research 2015, 8(2): 355-381 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0644-3
Review Article | Issue | Published: 19 February 2015

The photoluminescence mechanism in carbon dots (graphene quantum dots, carbon nanodots, and polymer dots): current state and future perspective

Show Author's Information Shoujun Zhu,  Yubin Song,  Xiaohuan Zhao,  Jieren Shao,  Junhu Zhang,  Bai Yang( )
State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and MaterialsCollege of ChemistryJilin UniversityChangchun130012P. R. China
Keywords:
carbon nanodots, graphene quantum dots, carbon dots, polymer dots, photoluminescence mechanism
Cite this article:
Zhu S, Song Y, Zhao X, et al. The photoluminescence mechanism in carbon dots (graphene quantum dots, carbon nanodots, and polymer dots): current state and future perspective. Nano Research, 2015, 8(2): 355-381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0644-3
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Abstract Full text About this article

At present, the actual mechanism of the photoluminescence (PL) of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) is still an open debate among researchers. Because of the variety of CDs, it is highly important to summarize the PL mechanism for these kinds of carbon materials; doing so can guide the development of effective synthesis routes and novel applications. This review will focus on the PL mechanism of CDs. Three types of fluorescent CDs were involved: graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon nanodots (CNDs), and polymer dots (PDs). Four reasonable PL mechanisms have been confirmed: the quantum confinement effect or conjugated π-domains, which are determined by the carbon core; the surface state, which is determined by hybridization of the carbon backbone and the connected chemical groups; the molecule state, which is determined solely by the fluorescent molecules connected on the surface or interior of the CDs; and the crosslink-enhanced emission (CEE) effect. To give a thorough summary, the category and synthesis routes, as well as the chemical/physical properties for the CDs, are briefly introduced in advance.


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About this article

The photoluminescence mechanism in carbon dots (graphene quantum dots, carbon nanodots, and polymer dots): current state and future perspective

Show Author's information Shoujun Zhu, Yubin Song, Xiaohuan Zhao, Jieren Shao, Junhu Zhang, Bai Yang( )
State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and MaterialsCollege of ChemistryJilin UniversityChangchun130012P. R. China

Abstract

At present, the actual mechanism of the photoluminescence (PL) of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) is still an open debate among researchers. Because of the variety of CDs, it is highly important to summarize the PL mechanism for these kinds of carbon materials; doing so can guide the development of effective synthesis routes and novel applications. This review will focus on the PL mechanism of CDs. Three types of fluorescent CDs were involved: graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon nanodots (CNDs), and polymer dots (PDs). Four reasonable PL mechanisms have been confirmed: the quantum confinement effect or conjugated π-domains, which are determined by the carbon core; the surface state, which is determined by hybridization of the carbon backbone and the connected chemical groups; the molecule state, which is determined solely by the fluorescent molecules connected on the surface or interior of the CDs; and the crosslink-enhanced emission (CEE) effect. To give a thorough summary, the category and synthesis routes, as well as the chemical/physical properties for the CDs, are briefly introduced in advance.

Keywords: carbon nanodots, graphene quantum dots, carbon dots, polymer dots, photoluminescence mechanism

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Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 09 September 2014
Revised: 10 November 2014
Accepted: 14 November 2014
Published: 19 February 2015
Issue date: February 2015

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grand Nos. 51373065, 21221063, 81320108011, 91123031), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, Grant No. 2012CB933800), and the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (No. 20130061130010).

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