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Synthesis and Unique Photoluminescence Properties of Nitrogen‐Rich Quantum Dots and Their Applications
Author(s) -
Chen Xiuxian,
Jin Qingqing,
Wu Lizhu,
Tung ChenHo,
Tang Xinjing
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201408422
Subject(s) - photoluminescence , quantum dot , nitrogen , aqueous solution , fluorescence , nanotechnology , materials science , carbon fibers , liquid nitrogen , chemistry , photochemistry , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , physics , organic chemistry , optics , engineering , composite number , composite material
Nitrogen‐rich quantum dots (N‐dots) were serendipitously synthesized in methanol or aqueous solution at a reaction temperature as low as 50 °C. These N‐dots have a small size (less than 10 nm) and contain a high percentage of the element nitrogen, and are thus a new member of quantum‐dot family. These N‐dots show unique and distinct photoluminescence properties with an increasing percentage of nitrogen compared to the neighboring carbon dots. The photoluminescence behavior was adjusted from blue to green simply through variation of the reaction temperature. Furthermore, the detailed mechanism of N‐dot formation was also proposed with the trapped intermediate. These N‐dots have also shown promising applications as fluorescent ink and biocompatible staining in C. elegans.