Dual Fluorescence in Glutathione-Derived Carbon Dots Revisited

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry. C 2022-02, Vol.126 (5), p.2720-2727
• Main Authors: Ganjkhanlou, Yadolah, Maris, J.J. Erik, Koek, Joris, Riemersma, Romy, Weckhuysen, Bert M, Meirer, Florian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: C: Spectroscopy and Dynamics of Nano, Hybrid, and Low-Dimensional Materials
• ISSN: 1932-7447; 1932-7455
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c10478

Dual-fluorescence carbon dots have great potential as nanosensors in life and materials sciences. Such carbon dots can be obtained via a solvothermal synthesis route with glutathione and formamide. In this work, we show that the dual-fluorescence emission of the synthesis products does not originate from a single carbon dot emitter, but rather from a mixture of physically separate compounds. We characterized the synthesis products with UV–vis, Raman, infrared, and fluorescence spectroscopy, and identified blue-emissive carbon dots and red-emissive porphyrin. We demonstrate an easy way to separate the two compounds without the need for time-consuming dialysis. Understanding the nature of the system, we can now steer the synthesis toward the desired product, which paves the way for a cheap and environmentally friendly synthesis route toward carbon dots, water-soluble porphyrin, and mixed systems.