Highly Photoluminescent Carbon Dots Derived from Egg White: Facile and Green Synthesis, Photoluminescence Properties, and Multiple Applications

Abstract

Carbon dots, which are superior fluorescent nanomaterials with low photobleaching, low toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, and low environmental hazard, have presented exciting opportunities in many fields. However, a better strategy to synthesize fluorescent carbon dots with high quantum yield and further developing their potential applications is still needed. Herein, a one-step hydrothermal strategy was proposed to prepare carbon dots from egg white. The as-prepared CDs, with a diameter of 2.1 nm, were well-dispersed in aqueous solution and showed excellent pH stability. During the hydrothermal reaction, the carbonization, N-doping, and surface functionalization were realized at the same time. With a high quantum yield of 61%, the CDs were used as a probe for detecting metal ions and in living cell imaging. Additionally, multifunctional nanocomposites were also prepared with novel thermosensitive photoluminescent properties.

Biomass‐Derived Carbon Dots and Their Applications

“…Their quantum yield reached 31.6% and 38%, respectively. Most biomass contains elements such as N and S, so heteroatom‐doped BCDs can be formed in the hydrothermal process, for example, grass, soybean milk, oatmeal, dried shrimp, egg white, molasses, and pipe tobacco . The size distribution of BCDs prepared by using them as carbon sources is uniform, and the quantum yield is obviously improved.…”

“…The quantum yield of BCDs prepared with oatmeal as carbon source was as high as 37.4%, but the size of BCDs ranged from 20 to 40 nm. Zhang et al . reported using egg white as a carbon source, treating it in a 220 °C autoclave for 48 h and cooling the product to room temperature to obtain N‐doped BCDs.…”

Graphene Carbon Dot Assisted Sustainable Synthesis of Gold Quantum Cluster for Bio‐Friendly White Light Emitting Material and Ratiometric Sensing of Mercury (Hg2+)

“…As anticipated, AuQC@GQD exhibited a dual‐emission spectrum with two well‐resolved fluorescence peaks at 450 nm and 680 nm, as excited by single excitationwavelength of 380 nm, corresponds to GQD and AuQC respectively. The emission spectrum of AuQC@GQD with different excitation wavelengths showed typical excitation‐dependent emission property of GQD's and excitation‐ independent emission property of AuQC's ,. The emission peak corresponds to GQD was shifted to longer wavelengths (from 400 nm to 525 nm) with the excitation from 320 to 560 nm, whereas the peak corresponds to AuQC not varying with excitation wavelength.…”

Mo2C and Its Composites Derived from Egg White for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at All pH Range

“…EW, a major raw material for the food industry, contains around 90% water and 10% proteins which have been served as precursor for carbon materials synthesis . Here, EW was chosen as natural carbon source for Mo 2 C synthesis because of its low‐cost and feasible availability.…”