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One-step synthesis of intrinsically functionalized fluorescent carbon nanoparticles by hydrothermal carbonization from different carbon sources

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Abstract

Highly functionalized carbon nanoparticles (F-CNPs) with average sizes of 5–30 nm were fabricated by hydrothermal carbonization of specific carbon sources at a mild temperature without usual strong acid treatment or surface modification. The morphology, structure, and fluorescent properties of the nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectra and fluorescent spectrophotometer. As a result, the abundant carboxylic, sulfonic, amine, or ethanamide groups were furnished on the surface of these carbon nanoparticles, offering the reaction sites for their possible further functionalization, and these functional groups also enhance the dispersion of carbon nanoparticles which are kept without precipitation for months. The hydrothermal treatment which is simple, green, and economical, also can endow the F-CNPs much more carboxyl groups, thus improving the quantum efficiency of as-prepared products. These functionalized carbon nanoparticles demonstrate the excitation wavelength-independent photoluminescence behavior, implying their potential applications in biological labeling, imaging, and chromatography.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21174059), Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular structure and Materials (SKLSSM201308) and the Testing Foundation of Nanjing University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, People’s Republic of China

    Chen Shen, Wei Yao & Yun Lu

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  1. Chen Shen
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  2. Wei Yao
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  3. Yun Lu
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Correspondence to Yun Lu.

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Shen, C., Yao, W. & Lu, Y. One-step synthesis of intrinsically functionalized fluorescent carbon nanoparticles by hydrothermal carbonization from different carbon sources. J Nanopart Res 15, 2019 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-2019-1

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