Synthesis of Tunable Fluorescent Carbon Dots: A Mini Review

Abstract

Among carbon nanomaterials family, small sized carbon dots (CDs) have received considerable research interest because of their interesting properties including tunable fluorescence, strong emission, easy surface modification, wider availability of carbon precursors, chemical stability, low photobleaching, etc. Moreover these dots are potential competitor compared to conventionally used semiconductor quantum dots. These remarkable properties allow the CDs to use in sensing, bioimaging, drug delivery, catalytic, and light emitting diode applications. Therefore the synthesis of tunable fluorescent CDs remains a crucial factor and challenging issue. In this minireview, we have explained two synthetic methods namely top-down and bottom-up approaches for synthesis of CDs. Different techniques under these two approaches have been well explained.