We report an upconversion ratiometric probe possessing the same emission peaks under a largely separated excitation spectra for hypochlorite detection in vivo.

Carbon dots (CDs), a relatively new kind of fluorescent nanomaterials superior to other contributors of carbon allotrope due to their excellent biocompatibility, controllable photoluminescence, high quantum yield (QY), unique electronic...

Unlike previous commonly used strong alkaline solvent sodium hydroxide, we first employ eco-friendly solvent, ethanol as a solvent for the preparation of ultra small sized sulfur quantum dots (SQDs). Ethanol...

Sulfur quantum dots (SQDs), an emerging metal-free quantum dot, which has received intense research interest owing to their unique optical property, good solubility, excellent biocompatibility, and facile synthetic approach. Herein, using sodium hypochlorite as the etching agent, we investigate how it functions and transforms sulfur powder to SQDs and affects the dynamics, photoluminescence, and size changes of SQDs by controlling the reaction time. Precise control of reaction time allows SQDs to be tuned between green and blue (from 515 to 420 nm) with size distribution ranging from 2.0 to 20 nm as well as the occurrence of a distinctive irregular rodlike structure. Surface functional groups and element analysis reveal that the core size and surface oxidizing sulfur species both contribute to the versatile PL properties. Morevoer, we propose a tentative formation mechanism that relies on the oxidizing sulfur surface state and quantum size effect, offering a theoretical and experimental foundation for investigation of we propose a tentative formation mechanism that relies on the oxidizing sulfur surface state and quantum size effect, offering a theoretical and experimental foundation for investigation of the formation and modulation of SQDs.