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Dual-mode emission of single-layered graphene quantum dots in confined nanospace: Anti-counterfeiting and sensor applications

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Abstract

Engineering of the luminescent properties for graphene quantum dots (GQDs) presents two enormous challenges: 1) The bandgap of GQDs is mainly determined by structural defects (size, shape, and the fraction of sp2 and sp3 domains), which results in non-stoichiometric nature; 2) the preparation methods limit the achievement of an accurate chemical structure of GQDs, leading to many controversial explanations over the relationship between the structural defects and bandgaps. Here, single-layered GQDs with an exact structure are obtained by in-situ reaction of intercalated precursors in the confined nanospace of layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Subsequently, the structure-property relationship is uncovered, demonstrating the enhanced fluorescence and activated room temperature phosphorescence of the as-prepared GQDs-LDHs, which originate from synergistic effects: 1) strong confinement provided by the nanospace of LDHs; 2) rich O-containing functional groups on the surface of GQDs resulting from LDH catalysis. Moreover, the colorless nature and dual-emission characteristics of GQDs-LDHs satisfy the preconditions as anti-counterfeiting markers for protecting valuable documents (bank notes, commercial invoices, etc.). Particularly, owing to the low toxicity of GQDs and the edible property of LDHs, the GQDs-LDHs/gelatin capsules could be the new generation of potential green anti-counterfeiting material in the field of food and drugs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2014CB932103), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21571014, 21575010, and 21656001), Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation (No. 2172044), and the Open Research Fund Program of Beijing Key Lab of Plant Resource Research and Development, Beijing Technology and Business University (No. PRRD-2016-YB5).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 15 Beisanhuan East Road, Beijing, 100029, China

    Liqian Bai, Ning Xue, Chao Lu & Wenying Shi

  2. Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Yufei Zhao

  3. Beijing Key Lab of Plant Resource Research and Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China

    Xinrui Wang

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  1. Liqian Bai
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Correspondence to Wenying Shi.

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Dual-mode emission of single-layered graphene quantum dots in confined nanospace: Anti-counterfeiting and sensor applications

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Bai, L., Xue, N., Zhao, Y. et al. Dual-mode emission of single-layered graphene quantum dots in confined nanospace: Anti-counterfeiting and sensor applications. Nano Res. 11, 2034–2045 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1820-z

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