Optical properties of carbon dots derived from table sugar via gamma irradiation

Abstract

Abstract Gamma irradiation is the only approach for green environmental synthesis that does not require further waste treatment. Therefore, gamma irradiation was employed for carbon dot production at room temperature in this study. The table sugar was utilized as a raw material without the addition of any hazardous additives. Using sugar concentrations of 4, 20, and 40% by weight, carbon dots were produced using gamma irradiation at 25 kGy. The as-synthesized carbon dots were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Utilizing UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, the optical characteristics of carbon dots were investigated. The carbon dots as synthesized had a high UV absorption peak at 271 nm and adjustable fluorescence emission.