Blue and green photoluminescence graphene quantum dots synthesized from carbon fibers

A facile chemical oxidation and exfoliation method has been developed to prepare luminescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) using commercial carbon fibers as the raw material, which were synthesized from pitch through an annealing process at 1500 °C. The as-prepared GQDs, in the thickness range of 1–2 graphene layers, exhibit an excitation-independent photoluminescence (PL) behavior similar to that of semiconductor quantum dots, and can be dissolved in water and common polar solvents. This approach has enabled a simple and effective way for production of the GQDs solution, which could be separated into blue and green photoluminescence (PL) GQDs with different dialysis bags.

Graphical AbstractWater and organic-soluble graphene quantum dots with thickness about 1-2 graphene layers were fabricated by chemical oxidation method and their photoluminescence (PL) properties were excitation-independent. The solution could be further separated into blue and green PL GQDs with different dialysis bags.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Single or double-layer graphene quantum dots were successfully synthesized via a simple and effective route.
► Presence of O-rich groups makes the GQDs soluble in aqueous medium and common organic solvents.
► As-prepared GQDs displayed excitation-independent PL behavior.
► Products could be separated into blue and green photoluminescent GQDs by different dialysis bags.