Uncommon 2D diamond-like carbon nanodots derived from nanotubes: atomic structure, electronic states, and photonic properties

• Published in: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP 2023-07, Vol.25 (26), p.17571-17582
• Main Authors: Boukhvalov, D. W, Zatsepin, D. A, Kuznetsova, Yu. A, Pryakhina, V. I, Zatsepin, A. F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Atomic structure; Diamond-like carbon; Electron states; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Photoelectrons; Photoluminescence; Quantum dots; Single wall carbon nanotubes; Synthesis; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/d3cp01158e

In this article, we report the results of a relatively facile fabrication of carbon nanodots from single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs and MWCNTs). The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman measurements show that the obtained carbon nanodots are quasi-two-dimensional objects with a diamond-like structure. Based on the characterization results, a theoretical model of the synthesized carbon nanodots was developed. The measured absorption spectra demonstrate the similarity in the local atomic structure of carbon nanodots synthesized from single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. However, the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of nanodots synthesized from both sources turned out to be completely different. Carbon dots fabricated from MWCNTs exhibit PL spectra similar to those of nanoscale carbon systems with sp 3 hybridization and a valuable edge contribution. At the same time nanodots synthesized from SWCNTs exhibit PL spectra which are typical for quantum dots with an estimated size of ∼0.6-1.3 nm. In this article, we report the results of relatively facile fabrication of carbon nanodots from single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs and MWCNTs).