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Fluorescent Carbon Dots Capped with PEG200 and Mercaptosuccinic Acid

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Abstract

The synthesis and functionalization of carbon nanoparticles with PEG200 and mercaptosuccinic acid, rendering fluorescent carbon dots, is described. Fluorescent carbon dots (maximum excitation and emission at 320 and 430 nm, respectively) with average dimension 267 nm were obtained. The lifetime decay of the functionalized carbon dots is complex and a three component decay time model originated a good fit with the following lifetimes: τ 1 = 2.71 ns; τ 2 = 7.36 ns; τ 3 = 0.38 ns. The fluorescence intensity of the carbon dots is affected by the solvent, pH (apparent pK a of 7.4 ± 0.2) and iodide (Stern-Volmer constant of 78 ± 2 M−1).

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Acknowledgments

Financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Lisboa, Portugal) (FSE-FEDER) (Project PTDC/QUI/71001/2006) and (Project PTDC/QUI/71336/2006) is acknowledged. A PhD grant to Helena Gonçalves SFRH/BD/46406/2008 is acknowledged to Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Lisboa). P.A.S. Jorge and J.R.A. Fernandes are acknowledging for assisting the laser ablation experiments.

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Correspondence to Joaquim C. G. Esteves da Silva.

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Gonçalves, H., Esteves da Silva, J.C.G. Fluorescent Carbon Dots Capped with PEG200 and Mercaptosuccinic Acid. J Fluoresc 20, 1023–1028 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-010-0652-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-010-0652-y

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