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An Efficient Templating Approach for the Synthesis of Redispersible Size‐Controllable Carbon Quantum Dots from Graphitic Polymeric Micelles
Author(s) -
Zhang Jianming,
Abbasi Farshad,
Claverie Jerome
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201502158
Subject(s) - nanoreactor , micelle , raft , materials science , polymerization , copolymer , quantum yield , chain transfer , nanoparticle , acrylic acid , chemical engineering , quantum dot , nanotechnology , polymer , radical polymerization , organic chemistry , chemistry , aqueous solution , physics , quantum mechanics , fluorescence , engineering , composite material
Access to high‐quality, easily dispersible carbon quantum dots (CQDs) is essential in order to fully exploit their desirable properties. Copolymers based on N‐acryloyl‐ D ‐glucosamine and acrylic acid prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization are self‐assembled into micelle‐like nanoreactors. After a facile graphitization process (170 °C, atmospheric pressure), each micellar template is transformed into a CQD through a 1:1 copy process. These high‐quality CQDs (quantum yield=22 %) with tunable sizes (2–5 nm) are decorated by carboxylic acid moieties and can be spontaneously redispersed in water and polar organic solvents. This preparation method renders the mass production of multifunctional CQDs possible. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, CQDs hybridized TiO 2 nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible‐light have been prepared.