SYNTHESIS AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF NITROGEN-DOPED CARBON QUANTUM DOTS

Authors

  • Le Thi Kim Dung Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue city, Vietnam
  • Nguyen Vinh Phu Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue city, Vietnam
  • Nguyen Nhu Y School of Engineering and Technology, Hue University, Hue city, Vietnam
  • Nguyen Minh Hoa Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue city, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1059.2025-0022

Keywords:

quantum dots, nitrogen-doped carbon, optical properties, N-CQDs, hydrothermal synthesis

Abstract

Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method at 150°C for 3 hours, with glucose and urea serving as the carbon and nitrogen precursors, respectively. The resulting N-CQDs, which had an average particle size of 3.60 ± 0.57 nm, exhibited blue fluorescence with an emission peak approximated 485.5 nm when excited at 370 nm. The photoluminescence intensity of the N-CQDs was pH-dependent, reaching its maximum at pH 5.0. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that the surface of the N-CQDs contained functional groups with carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen bonds, which contributed to their excellent water solubility and strong blue photoluminescence (quantum yield of 23%). These properties indicate that N-CQDs have high potential for applications in bioimaging and biosensing.

References

[1] Wu L, Li Y, Liu GQ & Yu SH, (2024). Polytypic metal chalcogenide nanocrystals. Chemical Society Reviews, 53, 9832–9873.

[2] Nabil M & Megahed F, (2023). Quantum dot nanomaterials: Preparation, characterization, advanced bio-imaging and therapeutic applications. Journal of Fluorescence, 34(6), 2467–2484.

[3] Barzegari S, Amani-Ghadim AR & Bayat F, (2024). Homogeneous embedding of plasmonic gold nanoparticles on FTO substrate to increase efficiency in CdS₀.₇₅Se₀.₂₅ quantum dot sensitized solar cell. Solar Energy, 277, 112656.

[4] Kim SH, Kim JY, Son DI & Lee HS, (2024). Heterointerface effects on carrier dynamics in colloidal quantum dots and their application to light-emitting diodes. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 16(19), 25511–25518.

[5] Sobhanan J, Rival JV, Anas A & et al., (2023). Luminescent quantum dots: Synthesis, optical properties, bioimaging and toxicity. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 197, 114830.

[6] Guan S & Tang M, (2024). Exposure of quantum dots in the nervous system: Central nervous system risks and the blood-brain barrier interface. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 44(7), 936–952.

[7] Yeh YJ, Liou JR, Lin W & et al., (2024). Plasma-engineered GQD-inorganic membranes with tunable interactions for ultrahigh-efficiency molecular separations. Journal of Membrane Science, 690, 122248.

[8] Syed N, Huang J & Feng Y, (2022). CQDs as emerging trends for prospect in enhancement of photocatalytic activity. Carbon Letters, 32(1), 81–97.

[9] Ahmed F, Zuhair Abbas Shah S, Ul Hassan N & et al., (2024). Band gap engineering of vacancy-ordered halide perovskite Cs₂SnCl₆ from substitutional doping of Pt and its effects on thermoelectric properties using the first-principles approach. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 164, 112461.

[10] Do TTH, Cao DN, Nguyen TH & et al., (2023). Control the solubility of carbon quantum dots by solvent engineering. HPU2 Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology, 2(3), 51–58.

[11] Chipangura YE, Spindler BD, Bühlmann P & Stein A, (2024). Design criteria for nanostructured carbon materials as solid contacts for ion-selective sensors. Advanced Materials, 36(8), 2309778.

[12] Le TMO, Lam TH, Pham DC & Do DB, (2020). Synthesis and study of the physical and photocatalytic properties of composites g-C₃N₄/ZnO. Journal of Science Natural Science, 65(3), 46–53.

[13] Tetteh IK, Issahaku I & Tetteh AY, (2024). Recent advances in synthesis, characterization, and environmental applications of activated carbons and other carbon derivatives. Carbon Trends, 14, 100328.

[14] Chaudhary N, Gupta PK, Eremin S & Solanki PR, (2020). One-step green approach to synthesize highly fluorescent carbon quantum dots from banana juice for selective detection of copper ions. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 8(3), 103720.

[15] Aup-Ngoen KK, Noipitak M, Sudchanham J & et al., (2024). The impact of carbon nanoparticles derived from sucrose, glucose, and fructose precursors on the performance of fully printed perovskite solar cells. Materials Today Communications, 39, 108549.

[16] Pho QH, Lin LL, Rebrov EV & et al., (2023). Process intensification for gram-scale synthesis of N-doped carbon quantum dots, immersing a microplasma jet in a gas-liquid reactor. Chemical Engineering Journal, 452, 139164.

[17] Dubey A & Dube CL, (2024). Microwave processing of carbon-based materials: A review. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects, 38, 101136.

[18] MAA Joseph R, Kutti Rani S & Vasimalai N, (2024). A novel molecular imprinted polymer grafted on N, S co-doped carbon quantum dots-based fluorescence sensor for chloramphenicol in food and clinical samples. Microchemical Journal, 207, 111675.

[19] Peng B, Xu J, Fan M & et al., (2020). Smartphone colorimetric determination of hydrogen peroxide in real samples based on B, N, and S co-doped carbon dots probe. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 412(4), 861–870.

[20] Zhang L, Yang X, Yin Z & Sun L, (2022). A review on carbon quantum dots: Synthesis, photoluminescence mechanisms and applications. Luminescence, 37(10), 1612–1638.

[21] Shaik SA, Sengupta S, Varma RS & et al., (2021). Syntheses of N-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) from bioderived precursors: A timely update. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9(1), 3–49.

[22] Mokhine S, Aladesuyi OA, Masha S & Oluwafemi OS, (2024). Selective and sensitive determination of folic acid amidst interfering metal ions and biomolecules using N-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs). Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects, 37, 101085.

Downloads

Published

30-06-2025

How to Cite

Thi Kim Dung, L., Vinh Phu, N., Nhu Y, N., & Minh Hoa, N. (2025). SYNTHESIS AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF NITROGEN-DOPED CARBON QUANTUM DOTS. Journal of Science Natural Science, 70(2), 70-77. https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1059.2025-0022