Natural-Product-Derived Carbon Dots: From Natural Products to Functional Materials

Nature provides an almost limitless supply of sources that inspire scientists to develop new materials with novel applications and less of an environmental impact. Recently, much attention has been focused on preparing natural-product-derived carbon dots (NCDs), because natural products have several advantages. First, natural products are renewable and have good biocompatibility. Second, natural products contain heteroatoms, which facilitate the fabrication of heteroatom-doped NCDs without the addition of an external heteroatom source. Finally, some natural products can be used to prepare NCDs in ways that are very green and simple relative to traditional methods for the preparation of carbon dots from man-made carbon sources. NCDs have shown tremendous potential in many fields, including biosensing, bioimaging, optoelectronics, and photocatalysis. This Review addresses recent progress in the synthesis, properties, and applications of NCDs. The challenges and future direction of research on NCD-based materials in this booming field are also discussed.

Phenolic condensation and facilitation of fluorescent carbon dot formation: a mechanism study

Fluorescent carbon dots have received considerable attention as a result of their accessibility and potential applications. Although several prior studies have demonstrated that nearly any organic compound can be converted into carbon dots by chemical carbonization processes, mechanisms explaining the formation of carbon dots still remain unclear. Herein, we propose a seed-growth mechanism of carbon dot formation facilitated by ferulic acid, a widespread and naturally occurring phenolic compound in the seeds of Ocimum basilicum (basil). Ferulic acid triggers the local condensation of polysaccharide chains and forms catalytic core regions resulting in nanoscale carbonization. Our study indicates that carbon dots generated from natural sources might share the similar mechanism of phenolic compound mediated nanoscale condensation followed by core carbonization.

Facile one‐pot hydrothermal synthesis of stable and biocompatible fluorescent carbon dots from lemon grass herb

Luminescent carbon‐based nanomaterials hold great promise due to their stable photo‐physical behaviour, biocompatibility and lower toxicity. This work involves economic and facile one‐pot green synthesis of water‐soluble nanostructures from lemon grass (LGNS) [Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf ] as carbon source. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of LGNS with lattice spacing of 0.23 nm matching low‐dimensional graphitic structures. The strong absorption exhibited at 278 nm could be attributed to л‐states of sp2 /sp3 hybridisation in carbon nanostructures. Fluorescence spectroscopy of LGNS exhibited strong excitation‐dependent emission properties over a broad range of wavelengths from 300 to 600 nm. Quantitatively, these LGNS were estimated to have quantum yield of 23.3%. Biomass derived LGNS could be potentially exploited for wide variety of applications like bioimaging, up‐conversion, drug delivery and optoelectronic devices. To this extent, synthesised LGNS were used to image yeast cells via multicolour/multi‐excitation fluorescence imaging.

RETRACTED: Facilely self-assembled magnetic nanoparticles/aptamer/carbon dots nanocomposites for highly sensitive up-conversion fluorescence turn-on detection of tetrodotoxin

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor following concerns raised by a reader. The article uses two electron micrographs which have been used in other publications as well, denoting different samples. Fig. 1A is identical to Fig. 3E in RSC Adv., 2013,3, 20959-20969 doi: 10.1039/C3RA43120G despite describing different samples. Fig. 2A is identical to Fig. 1B in Sensors & Actuators B: Chemical, vol 245, pp 386-394 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.166 and Fig. 1A in Materials Letters vol 195 pp 131-135 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.02.119 despite describing different samples. These problems with the data presented cast doubt on all the data, and accordingly also the conclusions based on that data, in this publication. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process., http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2017.08.043.

A Graphene Quantum Dots-Hypochlorite Hybrid System for the Quantitative Fluorescent Determination of Total Antioxidant Capacity

Antioxidants play a major part in the prevention and impairment of oxidative stress-induced damages and diseases. Evaluating the antioxidants activity/capacity in food and biological fluid is proved to be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of these oxidative stress-induced diseases. Herein, a graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-hypochlorite system to detect the antioxidants including nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants in the biological fluid is proposed. The detection principle is based on the fact that antioxidants can protect the fluorescence of GQDs from hypochlorite-caused quenching by acting as the scavengers of hypochlorite. The GQDs-hypochlorite system allows the accurate quantification of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of commercial drinks as well as the extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) secretion upon stimulation of cytokines or hyperglycemia. This system shows the excellent analytical recoveries for commercial drinks (>89.9%) and good consistency with ELISA testing for SOD secretion in cell-conditioned medium. These results demonstrate the ability and reliability of the GQD-hypochlorite system for detecting and quantifying TAC in real drinks and complex biological fluids.

Carbon dots: materials, synthesis, properties and approaches to long-wavelength and multicolor emission

Herein, we summarize recent research developments and progress of carbon dots (CDs), which have been attracting considerable attention as a new type of photoluminescent material. Raw materials, from single carbonaceous compounds to colorful natural substances, for the synthesis of CDs are discussed. A range of diverse synthetic methodologies to achieve better photoluminescence performance and more advanced functions are summarized, and these are basically divided into two classes: top-down and bottom-up. The inspiring properties, mainly including composites, optical properties and cytotoxicity, are listed. In particular, the luminescence mechanism and surface functionalization of the CDs are briefly discussed. Moreover, on the basis of the above, the long-wavelength and multicolor emission properties of CDs and ways to achieve these goals including surface state and size controlled by synthesis strategies, proper precursors, chemical doping and modification, solvatochromic effects and energy transfer are reviewed in detail.

One-Pot Hydrothermal Synthesis of Carbon Dots with Efficient Up- and Down-Converted Photoluminescence for the Sensitive Detection of Morin in a Dual-Readout Assay

Blue luminescent carbon dots (CDs) with a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (48.3 ± 5.3%) were prepared by the one-pot hydrothermal reaction of citric acid with poly(ethylenimine) (PEI). The CDs display bright PL, narrow emission spectra, pH-dependent PL intensity, high photostability, and up-converted luminescence. The CDs exhibit a quenching of both down- and up-conversion PL in the presence of morin and thus serve as useful probes for morin detection. Both down- and up-conversion measurements allow the quantification of concentrations from 0 to 300 μmol/L with a detection limit of 0.6 μmol/L, and this dual-mode detection increases the reliability of the measurement. The proposed method of determination is simple, sensitive, and cost-effective, with potential applications in clinical and biochemical assays.

Fluorescent carbon dots: rational synthesis, tunable optical properties and analytical applications

This review summarizes current advances on the design and the employment of fluorescent carbon dots in sensing applications, especially from the point of analytical view.

A novel carbon dots derived from reduced l-glutathione as fluorescent probe for the detection of the l-/d-arginine

Novel carbon dots (CDs) were fabricated by a hydro-thermal method, in which reduced l-glutathione was considered as the precursor and ethylenediamine as the passivating agent. Subsequently, the chemical structure and fluorescence stability of the CDs were thoroughly investigated.

Sustainable carbon-dots: recent advances in green carbon dots for sensing and bioimaging

This review article highlights recent progress in use of green precursors for synthesis of carbon-dots and their applications in fluorescence-based sensing and bioimaging.

RETRACTED: Designing of carbon based fluorescent nanosea-urchin via green-synthesis approach for live cell detection of zinc oxide nanoparticle

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of Editor following concerns raised by a reader. There are significant concerns regarding the originality of the electron micrographs displayed in Fig. 1 (panels B-G, especially C). The concern is that these multi-particle images are comprised of copies of the same particles. These problems with the data presented cast doubt on all the data, and accordingly also the conclusions based on that data, in this publication. As such this article represents a severe abuse of the scientific publishing system. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected during the submission process

Facile, green and clean one-step synthesis of carbon dots from wool: Application as a sensor for glyphosate detection based on the inner filter effect

In this work, we reported a green route for the fabrication of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs). Wool, a kind of nontoxic and natural raw material, was chosen as the precursor to prepare CDs via a one-step microwave-assisted pyrolysis process. Compared with previously reported methods for preparation of CDs based on biomass materials, this method was simple, facile and free of any additives, such as acids, bases, or salts, which avoid the complicated post-treatment process to purify the CDs. The CDs have a high quantum yield (16.3%) and their fluorescence could be quenched by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based on inner filter effect (IFE). The presence of glyphosate could induce the aggregation of AgNPs and thus result in the fluorescence recovery of the quenched CDs. Based on this phenomenon, we constructed a fluorescence system (CDs/AgNPs) for determination of glyphosate. Under the optimized conditions, the fluorescence intensity of the CDs/AgNPs system was proportional to the concentration of glyphosate in the range of 0.025-2.5μgmL(-1), with a detection limit of 12ngmL(-1). Furthermore, the established method has been successfully used for glyphosate detection in the cereal samples with satisfactory results.

Electrochemical Methods to Study Photoluminescent Carbon Nanodots: Preparation, Photoluminescence Mechanism and Sensing

With unique and tunable photoluminescence (PL) properties, carbon nanodots (CNDs) as a new class of optical tags have been extensively studied. Because of their merits of controllability and sensitivity to the surface of nanomaterials, electrochemical methods have already been adopted to study the intrinsic electronic structures of CNDs. In this review, we mainly deal with the electrochemical researches of CNDs, including preparation, PL mechanism, and biosensing.

Synthesis of Water Dispersible Fluorescent Carbon Nanocrystals from Syzygium cumini Fruits for the Detection of Fe3+ Ion in Water and Biological Samples and Imaging of Fusarium avenaceum Cells

In this work, water dispersible fluorescent carbon nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized by a simple, green and low cost hydrothermal method using Syzygium cumini (jamun) as a carbon source at 180 °C for 6 h. The average size of carbon NCs was found to be 2.1 ± 0.5 nm and shown bright blue fluorescence when excited at 365 nm under UV lamp. The carbon NCs were characterized by spectroscopic (UV-visible and fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared and dynamic light scattering) and high resolution transmission electron microscopic techniques. The quantum yield of carbon NCs was found to be ~5.9 % at 438 nm emission wavelength when excited at 360 nm. It was noticed that none of the metal ions quenched the fluorescence intensity of carbon NCs at 438 nm except for Fe³⁺, indicating the formation of Fe³⁺ ion-carbon NCs complexes. The linear range was observed in the concentration range of 0.01-100 μM with the corresponding detection limits of 0.001 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the carbon NCs were used as probes for imaging of fungal (Fusarium avenaceum) cells.

Large-scale synthesis of N-doped carbon quantum dots and their phosphorescence properties in a polyurethane matrix

An easy, large-scale synthesis of N-doped carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was developed by using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as a single carbon source under microwave irradiation. The yield of raw N-doped CQDs was about 83%, which is suitable for industrial-scale production. A detailed formation mechanism for N-doped CQDs involving self-polymerization and condensation of IPDI was demonstrated. Moreover, the obtained N-doped CQDs can be homogeneously dispersed in various organic monomers and do not need toxic organic solvents as dispersing agents. This advantage expands the range of applications of CQDs in composites. The N-doped CQDs dispersed in polyurethane (PU) matrixes emit not only fluorescence but also phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence at room temperature upon excitation with ultraviolet (UV) light. Furthermore, the phosphorescence of CQD/PU composites is sensitive to oxygen and therefore, the obtained-CQDs could be exploited in the development of novel oxygen sensors.

A lysosome-targeted and ratiometric fluorescent probe for imaging exogenous and endogenous hypochlorous acid in living cells

We have developed the first small-molecule based, lysosomal-targeted ratiometric fluorescent HClO probe (Lyso-HA). Fluorescence imaging shows that it is suitable for ratiometric visualization of exogenous and endogenous HClO at lysosomes in living cells.

Fluorescence quenching and spectrophotometric methods for the determination of 6-mercaptopurine based on carbon dots

A carbon dot-based fluorescence probe was designed for detecting 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) via fluorescence quenching.

Temperature dependent, shape variant synthesis of photoluminescent and biocompatible carbon nanostructures from almond husk for applications in dye removal

The effect of the carbonization temperature on the morphology and properties of synthesized water soluble photoluminescent carbon nanostructures from almond husks have been investigated.

A hydrothermal reaction of an aqueous solution of BSA yields highly fluorescent N doped C-dots used for imaging of live mammalian cells

In the current study, we present a new and facile synthesis of N doped C-dots (N@C-dots) by hydrothermally reacting an aqueous solution of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) for imaging of live mammalian cells.

Green synthesis of carbon quantum dots from lemon peel waste: applications in sensing and photocatalysis

Water soluble carbon quantum dots were synthesized from lemon peel waste and were used for Cr⁶⁺ detection and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye.

Thiosemicarbazide chemical functionalized carbon dots as a fluorescent nanosensor for sensing Cu2+and intracellular imaging

Synthesis procedures for the CDs-based nanosensor and schematic diagram of Cu²⁺detection.

Sustainable Life Cycles of Natural-Precursor-Derived Nanocarbons

Sustainable societal and economic development relies on novel nanotechnologies that offer maximum efficiency at minimal environmental cost. Yet, it is very challenging to apply green chemistry approaches across the entire life cycle of nanotech products, from design and nanomaterial synthesis to utilization and disposal. Recently, novel, efficient methods based on nonequilibrium reactive plasma chemistries that minimize the process steps and dramatically reduce the use of expensive and hazardous reagents have been applied to low-cost natural and waste sources to produce value-added nanomaterials with a wide range of applications. This review discusses the distinctive effects of nonequilibrium reactive chemistries and how these effects can aid and advance the integration of sustainable chemistry into each stage of nanotech product life. Examples of the use of enabling plasma-based technologies in sustainable production and degradation of nanotech products are discussed-from selection of precursors derived from natural resources and their conversion into functional building units, to methods for green synthesis of useful naturally degradable carbon-based nanomaterials, to device operation and eventual disintegration into naturally degradable yet potentially reusable byproducts.

Microwave assisted one-pot synthesis of graphene quantum dots as highly sensitive fluorescent probes for detection of iron ions and pH value

Recently, carbon nanomaterials have received considerable attention as fluorescent probes owing to their low toxicity, water solubility and stable photochemical properties. However, the development of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) is still on its early stage. In this work, GQDs were successfully synthesized by one-step microwave assisted pyrolysis of aspartic acid (Asp) and NH4HCO3 mixture. The as-prepared GQDs exhibited strongly blue fluorescence with high quantum yield up to 14%. Strong fluorescence quenching effect of Fe(3+) on GQDs can be used for its high selectivity detection among of general metal ions. The probe exhibited a wide linear response concentration range (0-50 μM) to Fe(3+) and the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.26 μM. In addition, GQDs are also sensitive to the pH value in the range from 2 to 12 indicating a great potential as optical pH sensors. More importantly, the GQDs possess lower cellular toxicity and high photostability and can be directly used as fluorescent probes for cell imaging.

In situ photochemical synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots for optical sensing of hydrogen peroxide and antioxidants

A new synthesis approach for obtaining fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) based on UV irradiation of carbohydrates was developed. The photochemical synthesis pathway allows the formation of water soluble CDs of analytical usefulness within one min. CDs obtained by photochemical treatment from the sucrose/NaOH/poly(ethylene glycol) system are monodisperse with an average size of 8 nm as determined by transmission electron microscopy. A dramatic increase in the CDs fluorescence (turn on) is observed when H2O2 is added. The decrease in CDs size occurring by the action of highly oxidant OH radicals gives rise to confinement of emissive energy traps and, in turn, to fluorescence enhancement. Antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and glutathione inhibit the photochemical reaction giving rise to a decrease in fluorescence of the CDs/H2O2 system (turn on-off). The detection limit was 5 µM H2O2 and the repeatability expressed as the relative standard deviation was 3.8% (N=7). The photochemical synthesis of CDs allows building a green, low-cost, safe and fast assay for the detection of H2O2 and antioxidants. An application of the novel fluorescent nanoprobe to H2O2 detection in contact lens cleaning solutions is performed.

Biogenic Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Dots at Ambient Temperature Using Azadirachta indica (Neem) gum

Synthesis of fluorescent Carbon Dots (CDs) from various carbonaceous materials apparently has acquired lots of interest amongst researchers as the corollary of the properties of CDs; which are subsequently getting unveiled. In this study we report the use of Azadirachta indica (Neem) Gum as a novel natural pre-cursor for synthesis of CDs at room temperature. Water soluble CDs of around 5-8 nm were obtained after treatment of the gum with ethanol and NaOH. These CDs exhibited green fluorescence in UV-light (λ = 365 nm). These CDs were found to be stable, having many bio-linkers attached on their surface, making it suitable for drug attachment and hence can serve as potential candidates for applications like drug delivery vehicles as well as for biosensors.

Glowing graphene quantum dots and carbon dots: properties, syntheses, and biological applications

The emerging graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and carbon dots (C-dots) have gained tremendous attention for their enormous potentials for biomedical applications, owing to their unique and tunable photoluminescence properties, exceptional physicochemical properties, high photostability, biocompatibility, and small size. This article aims to update the latest results in this rapidly evolving field and to provide critical insights to inspire more exciting developments. We comparatively review the properties and synthesis methods of these carbon nanodots and place emphasis on their biological (both fundamental and theranostic) applications.

One pot selective synthesis of water and organic soluble carbon dots with green fluorescence emission

This work reports a simple and energy-saving strategy for selective synthesis of water-soluble and organic-soluble carbon dots at room temperature.

Carbon quantum dots and their applications

This review covers the progress in the research and development of carbon quantum dots and their applications in chemical sensing, biosensing, bioimaging, nanomedicine, photocatalysis and electrocatalysis.

Hybrid nanostructured C-dot decorated Fe3O4electrode materials for superior electrochemical energy storage performance

Here, the novel Fe₃O₄-C hybrid nanocomposite demonstrates high specific capacitance (S.C.) than the pristine Fe₃O₄nanospheres due to the presence of the highly conducting carbon quantum dots.