Solvothermal conversion of coal into nitrogen-doped carbon dots with singlet oxygen generation and high quantum yield

•Controlled synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots from coal is achieved by a facile solvothermal process.•The carbon dots feature a high quantum yield up to 47%, as well as singlet oxygen generation behavior.•The possible mechanism involved in the formation of nitrogen-doped carbon dots is discussed.

Fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) are synthesized by a facile one-pot solvothermal approach from Taixi anthracite in the presence of dimethyl formamide (DMF). Benefiting from superior dispersion of light components in DMF and easy exfoliation of smaller sp2-carbon structures from the anthracite, the as-prepared N-CDs show a strong photoluminescence (PL) with a high quantum yield (QY) of 47.0% and production yield of 25.6 wt%. Besides, the N-CDs also exhibit a singlet oxygen (1O2) generation behavior with a 1O2 generation QY of 19.0%. Moreover, the as-obtained N-CDs emit blue PL under the excitation wavelength of 365 nm, and can be easily dispersed in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), retaining the inherent advantages of the N-CDs and the PMMA matrix. The possible mechanism involved in the formation of N-CDs is proposed and discussed in terms of the macromolecular structure of the anthracite and the solvothermal approach adopted in the study.

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