Carbon Dots from Turnip Juice: Synthesis, Characterization and Investigation of pH-Dependent Optical Properties

Abstract

In this study, carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized using a simple one-pot hydrothermal method by using turnip juice as carbon source. The water-soluble nontoxic carbon dots were obtained after reaction. The structural and optical properties of as synthesized CDs were elucidated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, Fourier Transmission Infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis absorption and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. A contour plot of the excitation dependent PL spectra of the turnip juice derived CDs and PL emission spectra in 3D color map were plotted. The maximum PL emission was found at 434 nm when excited at 364. The pH dependent luminescence properties of the CDs were investigated from pH 2-12 range in phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The resulting CDs can be evaluated in a variety of application areas, from anti-counterfeiting to bioimaging.