Surface Modification Functionalized Carbon Dots

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) smaller than 10 nm constitute a new type of fluorescent carbon‐based nanomaterial. They have attracted much attention owing to their unique structures and excellent photoelectric properties. Primitive CDs usually comprise carbon and oxygen and are synthesized in one step from various natural products or synthetic organic compounds, usually via microwave or hydrothermal methods. However, the uniformity of surface functional groups often make CDs lack the diversity of active sites required for specific applications. Therefore, the functionalization of CDs by specific groups is a powerful strategy for improving their photophysical and photochemical properties. This paper reviews surface modification strategies to overcome these shortcomings. Functionalizing CDs using covalent or non‐covalent modification can give them unique properties and broaden their applicability.

Carbon Dots in Enantioselective Sensing

“…In order to save on the amount of chiral reagent, the best way is to synthesize CDs using achiral molecules and then to exploit the surface functional groups to bind the chiral agent either by adsorption or by covalent bonds ( Figure 3 [ 31 ]).…”

An overview on animal/human biomass-derived carbon dots for optical sensing and bioimaging applications

“…The surface of CDs contains abundant functional groups, which can be modied with functional molecules either via covalent chemistry or non-covalent interaction. 112 Covalent modication involves the direct binding of additional molecules to the surface of CDs, whereas p interaction, electrostatic conjugation and van der Waals force direct non-covalent modication. The coupling of the abundant -COOH groups present on the surface of CDs with amine containing compounds via an amide linkage is one of the simplest covalent functionalization strategies to improve the uorescence intensity and amphiphilic character of CDs.…”