Role of C–N Configurations in the Photoluminescence of Graphene Quantum Dots Synthesized by a Hydrothermal Route

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) containing N atoms were successfully synthesized using a facile, inexpensive and environmentally friendly hydrothermal reaction of urea and citric acid and the effect of the GQDs’ C–N configurations on their photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated. High-resol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2016-02, Vol.6 (1), p.21042-21042, Article 21042
Main Authors: Permatasari, Fitri Aulia, Aimon, Akfiny Hasdi, Iskandar, Ferry, Ogi, Takashi, Okuyama, Kikuo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
140/146
639/301/357/1017
639/925/357/537
Citric acid
Electron microscopy
Electrons
Humanities and Social Sciences
Luminescence
multidisciplinary
Photoelectron spectroscopy
Photons
Quantum dots
Science
Spectroscopy
Spectrum analysis
Transmission electron microscopy
Ultraviolet spectroscopy
Urea
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Summary:Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) containing N atoms were successfully synthesized using a facile, inexpensive and environmentally friendly hydrothermal reaction of urea and citric acid and the effect of the GQDs’ C–N configurations on their photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images confirmed that the dots were spherical, with an average diameter of 2.17 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicated that the C–N configurations of the GQDs substantially affected their PL intensity. Increased PL intensity was obtained in areas with greater percentages of pyridinic-N and lower percentages of pyrrolic-N. This enhanced PL was attributed to delocalized π electrons from pyridinic-N contributing to the C system of the GQDs. On the basis of energy electron loss spectroscopy (EELS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy analyses, we propose a PL mechanism for hydrothermally synthesized GQDs.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep21042