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Fluorescent carbon dots for sensing applications: a review

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Abstract

Luminescent carbon dots (CDs) are important class of nanomaterials with fantastic photoluminescence (PL) properties, great biocompatibility, extraordinary solubility in water, minimal expense, and so on. There are many methods for their preparation and they are mainly classed into two groups, top-down and bottom-up approaches. In order to understand the origin of fluorescence in quantum CDs, three mechanisms have been proposed namely molecular state, surface state, and quantum confinement phenomenon. Fluorescent CDs have significant application in the fields of biochemical sensing, photocatalysis, bioimaging, delivery of drugs, and other related fields. In this review article the application of quantum dots as detecting component, for the sensing of different targets, has been summed up. In fact, the detection of several analytes including, anions, cations, small molecules, polymers, cells, and microscopic organisms has been discoursed. Moreover, the future aspects of CDs as detecting resources have been explored.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the persons who have supported them to perform out this report. Second, they would like to express their sincere appreciation to the supervisor, whose guidance and comments were valuable for them that motivate them so much.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, University Institute of Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, 140413, India

    Rachna Dhiman, Jagdeep Kumar & Mallika Singh

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Correspondence to Jagdeep Kumar.

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Dhiman, R., Kumar, J. & Singh, M. Fluorescent carbon dots for sensing applications: a review. ANAL. SCI. 40, 1387–1396 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44211-024-00609-4

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