Optical properties of fluorescent zigzag graphene quantum dots derived from multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Journal Article · Mon Feb 10 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4863963· OSTI ID:22283158

Chen, Wei; Li, Fushan; Wu, Chaoxing; Guo, Tailiang ^[1]

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1. Institute of Optoelectronic Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002 (China)

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are edge-bound nanometer-size graphene pieces, have fascinating electronic and optical properties due to their quantum confinement and edge effect. In this paper, GQDs were synthesized by using acid treatment and chemical exfoliation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The structure of the GQDs was investigated by transmission electron microscope. The GQDs have a uniform size distribution, zigzag edge structure and two-dimensional morphology. The results indicated that the GQDs have bright blue emission upon UV excitation. The highly fluorescent GQDs exhibited high water solubility and good stability. It is shown that the acid treatment of MWCNTs leads to the formation of the functional group in zigzag sites, which results in the pH-dependent fluorescence of the GQDs.

• OSTI ID: 22283158
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 104; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
CARBON NANOTUBES
CONFINEMENT
EXCITATION
FLUORESCENCE
GRAPHENE
MORPHOLOGY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PH VALUE
PHASE STABILITY
QUANTUM DOTS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS