Embedding Carbon Dots in Superabsorbent Polymers for Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

A type of orange carbon dots (O-CDs) synthesized via an ultrasonication route with citric acid and 1,2-phenylenediamine as precursors was embedded into sodium polyacrylate (SPA) as the ink for 3D printing. Characterizations of these spherical O-CDs revealed an ultra-small size (~2 nm) and excitation-independent, but solvent dependent, emission. The O-CDs were evenly distributed with low degree of aggregation in sodium polyacrylate (SPA), which was achieved due to the property that SPA can absorb water together with O-CDs. The 3D printed photoluminescent objective with the ink revealed a great potential for high yield application of these materials for additive manufacturing. This also represents the first time, bare CDs have been reported as a photoluminescent material in 3D printing, as well as the first time SPA has been reported as a material for 3D printing.

Carbon Dots: A Future Blood–Brain Barrier Penetrating Nanomedicine and Drug Nanocarrier

“…27 For example, Zhou et al reported a unique type of excitation-independent yellow-emissive CDs (Y-CDs) with citric acid and o-phenylenediamine (OPD) applied as precursors. 28 Moreover, it was also reported by Ajmal et al to produce CDs from glucose through probe sonication. 29 There are common optical properties among CDs with minor variations.…”

“…Zhou et al also utilized the same precursors but a different ultrasonication-mediated method to obtain the aforementioned Y-CDs. 28 However, after separation by SEC, only one fraction was obtained from Y-CDs. Moreover, XPS characterization demonstrated that Y-CDs possessed C=C, C-O, C=O, and pyrrolidonyl nitrogen on the surface.…”

Recent development of carbon quantum dots regarding their optical properties, photoluminescence mechanism, and core structure

“…High values, above 90%, have been reported for emission in the blue region of light, but QY values measured at longer wavelengths are often low or are compromised due to dubious QY standard choice. 122,164 There is great potential for applications in bio-imaging to avoid the autofluorescence of tissues and other areas for CDs which possess emission above 650 nm, in the red or infrared region. Compared to the QY measurement, PL decay lifetime hasn't been outlined and it is always under 20 ns, which remains to be enhanced.…”

Doping and Surface Modification of Carbon Quantum Dots for Enhanced Functionalities and Related Applications

“…[ 324 ] 3D printing using CQD was realized by Zhou et al. [ 325 ] Recently, molecularly imprinted CQD polymers (CQD@MIP) are found to be useful for point‐of‐care testing (POCT) by the sensing of organic molecules employing visual fluorescence via 3D printing. [ 326 ]…”