Carbon dots (CDs) possess unique optical properties such as tunable photoluminescence (PL) and excitation dependent multicolor emission. The quenching and recovery of the fluorescence of CDs can be utilized for detecting analytes. The PL mechanisms of CDs have been discussed in previous articles, but the quenching mechanisms of CDs have not been summarized so far. Quenching mechanisms include static quenching, dynamic quenching, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), photoinduced electron transfer (PET), surface energy transfer (SET), Dexter energy transfer (DET) and inner filter effect (IFE). Following an introduction, the review (with 88 refs.) first summarizes the various kinds of quenching mechanisms of CDs (including static quenching, dynamic quenching, FRET, PET and IFE), the principles of these quenching mechanisms, and the methods of distinguishing these quenching mechanisms. This is followed by an overview on applications of the various quenching mechanisms in detection and imaging.

Rhodamine is a convenient platform for the construction of “OFF–ON” ratiometric excitation energy transfer fluorescent probes.

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