Carbon Dots‐in‐Matrix Boosting Intriguing Luminescence Properties and Applications

Abstract

As a new class of luminescent nanomaterials, carbon dots (CDs) have aroused significant interest because of their fascinating photoluminescence properties and potential applications in biological, optoelectronic, and energy‐related fields. Strikingly, embedding CDs in host matrices endow them with intriguing luminescent properties, in particular, room temperature phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence, due to the confinement effect of the host matrix and the H‐bonding interactions between CDs and the matrix. Here, the state‐of‐the‐art strategies for introducing CDs in various host matrices are summarized, such as nanoporous materials, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane, potash alum, layered double hydroxides, amorphous silica, etc. The resultant luminescent properties of the composites and their emission mechanisms are discussed. Their applications in bioimaging, drug delivery/release, sensing, and anticounterfeiting are also presented. Finally, current problems and challenges of CDs‐based composites are noted for future development of such luminescent materials.

Flexible and Robust Electro‐Optically Responsive Films Based on Novel Silica/Oligoaniline/Carbon Dots Composite

“…[5][6][7][8] While these materials offer extraordinary properties, production scale manufacturing of devices based on many of these materials remains a chemistry and engineering challenge due to a variety of factors. [11][12][13][14][15][16] Oligoanilines, as model compounds of polyaniline, have garnered significant interest due to interesting and predictable electroactive properties and potential applications in anticorrosion, sensors, tissue engineering, and energy-related fields. We surmised it might be possible to create composite films with properties similar to organic electronic materials by decorating electroactive components with ortho silicates units, cast them on an ITO surface, and crosslink the ortho silicates hydrolytically.…”

“…[11][12][13] Generally, CDs are composed of inner sp 2 -hybridized carbon atoms, outer sp 3 -hybridized carbon atoms, and surface oxygen-containing functional groups such as amino, epoxy, ether, carbonyl, hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups, thus making them possess excellent water solubility, easily tunable surface functionalization or subsequent labels with various chemical species. [11][12][13] Generally, CDs are composed of inner sp 2 -hybridized carbon atoms, outer sp 3 -hybridized carbon atoms, and surface oxygen-containing functional groups such as amino, epoxy, ether, carbonyl, hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups, thus making them possess excellent water solubility, easily tunable surface functionalization or subsequent labels with various chemical species.…”

“…To these ends we chose a combination of oligoanilines (based on our previous work) [9,10] and carbon dots (chosen for a number of reasons highlighted below). [11][12][13][14][15][16] Oligoanilines, as model compounds of polyaniline, have garnered significant interest due to interesting and predictable electroactive properties and potential applications in anticorrosion, sensors, tissue engineering, and energy-related fields. [17][18][19][20][21] Introducing oligoanilines in a variety of polymeric architectures can endow them with attractive electroactivity and stimuli-responsiveness, while featuring superior solubility, processability, and tunability.…”

“…Carbon dots (CDs), as new emerging fluorescent carbonaceous nanomaterials, have likewise received significant research interest in recent years, related in large part to their advantages over metal-based quantum dots such as low toxicity, tunable fluorescence, improved water solubility and unique physicochemical properties. [11][12][13] Generally, CDs are composed of inner sp 2 -hybridized carbon atoms, outer sp 3 -hybridized carbon atoms, and surface oxygen-containing functional groups such as amino, epoxy, ether, carbonyl, hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups, thus making them possess excellent water solubility, easily tunable surface functionalization or subsequent labels with various chemical species. [14][15][16] In view of the fluorescence and tunable surface characteristics of CDs, we surmised that a new hybrid material could be generated through covalent bonds between oligoanilines and CDs.…”

Nanomaterials Innovation

“…Carbon dots have been another class of luminescent materials that benefit from nanoscale size. Carbon dots are well compatible with matrices such as porous materials, layered materials and amorphous silica . The resultant composites show special luminescent properties, including room temperature phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence.…”