One-Step Synthesis of Water-Soluble Fluorescent Carbon Dots

Abstract

Water-soluble carbon dots (CDs) with high yield were synthesized by a facile, one-step incomplete pyrolytic route under nitrogen atmosphere or air using ammonium citrate as carbon source. Photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to determine the characteristics of the CDs. Though CDs could be prepared from 150 oC to 400 oC, the highest yield of CDs (17.5%) was achieved at the heating temperature of 150 oC in air, so did the relative quantum yield. The as-prepared CDs showed excellent biocompatibility and had been tentatively used in cell imaging.