Open AccessDesign and Synthesis of Core–Shell Carbon Polymer Dots with Highly Stable Fluorescence in Polymeric Materials
Author(s) -
Yuan Yu,
Peixin Tang,
Bogdan Barnych,
Cunyi Zhao,
Gang Sun,
Mingqiao Ge
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acs applied nano materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2574-0970
DOI - 10.1021/acsanm.9b01446
Subject(s) - fluorescence , polymer , aqueous solution , luminescence , quenching (fluorescence) , materials science , photochemistry , chemical engineering , amine gas treating , carbon fibers , citric acid , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics , composite number , engineering , composite material
In recent years, fluorescent carbon dots have attracted great attention due to their good luminescence and low toxicity. Here, blue fluorescent core-shell structured carbon polymer dots (CPDs) with high stability under a wide range of pH values, long storage time and excellent fluorescence in various solvents and even in solid state were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis of dendritic tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TAEA) and citric acid. The CPDs core structure provides strong fluorescent luminescence, a shell structure of the core possesses high amount of dendritic primary amino groups connected by ethylene groups to the core. This unique structure prevents aggregation of the cores and self-quenching effect of CPDs. As a result, the CPDs have high fluorescence in both aqueous and hydrophobic solutions and even as pure solid-state powder. In addition, the CPDs are also insensitive to pH of solutions, and the fluorescence intensity of the solution was stable in the pH range of 4-14. The CPDs embedded polymer films and fibers revealed excellent fluorescent properties.