Transforming Carbon Black into Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Ethanol

Abstract

Graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) are nanometer-sized graphene oxide fragments that exhibit unique properties, making them interesting candidates for a range of new applications. Carbon black, one of the commercially available carbon precursors, is produced by the thermal decomposition or incomplete combustion of organic compounds. It is commonly used as a supporting material for catalysts because of its excellent electrical conductivity, high surface area, and stability. In this paper, we report the transformation of carbon black into GOQDs in 10 min using a one-step facile approach. This transformation was achieved by pulsed laser ablation (PLA) in ethanol using the earth-abundant and low-cost carbon black as precursor. Only ethanol and carbon black were used for the transformation. The carbon clusters ablated from the carbon black were completely transformed into GOQDs with a homogeneous size distribution and heights in the range of 0.3-1.7 nm. This confirmed that the transformed GOQDs consisted of only single- or few-layered graphene quantum dots. The UV-vis spectra showed absorption bands at 215, 260, and 320 nm, which were attributed to the π→π* transition of the C=C of the sp² C bond in the sp³ C matrix. A distinct blue emission peak at 450 nm was evident at an excitation wavelength of 360 nm. The broader PL emission spectra are due to the oxygen-related functional groups emitting PL between 300 and 440 nm.