Hydrothermal Synthesis to Water-stable Luminescent Carbon Dots from Acerola Fruit for Photoluminescent Composites Preparation and its Application as Sensors

Abstract

Carbon dots (C-dots) possess the attractive properties of high stability, low toxicity, good water solubility, simple synthetic routes as well as size and excitation-dependent photoluminescence (PL).The aim of this work was to synthesize photoluminescent C-dots by hydrothermal method using acerola fruit (Malpighiaemarginata) as a row material, since this fruit contains large number of organic molecules. Studies about the optimal synthesis conditions were performed, where these organic molecules were converted into C-dots by hydrothermal carbonization at 180 ºC for 18 h. The C-dots exhibited a green emission light at 459 nm when excited under UV-light ( λ ex = 370 nm). These nanomaterials were also successfully used to prepare C-dots/poly (vinyl alcohol) luminescent composites (C-dots/PVA). Both C-dots and C-dots/PVA composite films were investigated by using colorimetric visual sensor for Fe 3+ metal ions detection. The results show that the prepared C-dots and C-dots/poly presented strong green emission light. The emission spectra of above materials were quenched in the presence of Fe 3+ ions. Thus, highly specific "turn off" fluorescence sensing of Fe 3+ was achieved using fluorescent C-dots. Regarding, this work describe that the polymeric films as sensors of metallic ions in aqueous solution appears as a new perspectives to design new composite materials.

Biomass‐derived Carbon Quantum Dots – A Review. Part 1: Preparation and Characterization

“…It is 3.5 nm in size with densely packed alkyl chains along with turbostratic and graphitic carbons. The quantum yield of C‐dots is measured to be 7.6 % 232 which is lower than that of acerola fruit juice (8.64 %) 210.…”

“…3). They are roots 163, seaweeds 164, orange juice 165, 166 soybeans 167, grass 168, egg 169, soymilk 170, watermelon peel 171, egg‐shell membranes 172, sweet pepper 173, sugar cane bagasse 174, banana juice 175, sugar cane juice 176, 177, water chestnut peel 178, strawberry juice 179, mori silk 180, orange peel 181, green tea 182, konjac flour 183, ginger 184, corn flour 185, milk 186, potato 187, mango fruit 188, apple juice 189, lime 190, coriander leaves 191, lychee seeds 192, cabbage 193, garlic 194, egg white 195, Jinhua bergamot orange 196, willow catkins 197, coffee grounds 198, papaya 199, dried shrimps 200, silkworm chrysalis 201, limeade 202, lotus root 203, tomato juice 204, silk fibroin 205, honey 206, sweet potato 207, elm samara 208, quince fruit 209, acerola fruit juice 210, and peanut shell 211.…”

“…Carbon nanocrystals (CNCs) from Java plum ( Syzygium cumini ) exhibited the presence of π‐π system or the n‐π* transition of the carbonyl group at 321 nm in the UV/Vis spectrum 23. C‐dots show broad absorption band at 282 nm and shoulder at 343 nm, which are ascribed to π‐π* transitions of the aliphatic group of C=C bond and n‐π* transition of the aromatic group of C=O bond 210. CQDs from orange and lemon peels have carboxyl groups of the ‐C=O bonds and have n‐π* transition at ∼270 nm and π‐π* transition of the aromatic compounds of sp 2 (‐C=C) domains.…”

Antireflection Enhancement by Composite Nanoporous Zeolite 3A–Carbon Thin Film

“…The short lifetime of the zeolite 3A carbon is indicative of the radiative recombination of the excitons, giving rise to the fluorescence [57]. This also may be caused by the different chromophores or energy levels present in the samples and responsible for their multiple lifetimes [58].…”

Carbon Dot/Polymer Composites with Various Precursors and Their Sensing Applications: A Review

“…Natural precursors that have heteroatoms such as nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), and boron (B) are very comfortable starting materials with which to prepare doped CDs, unlike other doped CDs derived from synthetic precursors, which require the external addition of heteroatom-containing compounds [55]. Several natural products have been used for the preparation of CDs before manufacturing their composites with polymers, including inner cassava peels [56], Acerola fruit [57], mango peels [58], Cedrus [59], rosemary leaves [60], chitosan [61], and starch [62]. Although CDs from natural products have various prominent advantages, as mentioned above, they usually need more time for pretreatment and have low quantum yields (QYs) compared to those derived from synthetic products.…”