Laser-ablation production of graphene oxide nanostructures: from ribbons to quantum dots

A new one-step method for the preparation of graphene oxide (GO) nanostructures has been developed by pulsed laser ablation in GO solution. The formation of different shapes of GO nanostructures, such as ribbons, nanoflakes (including nano-squares, nano-rectangles, nano-triangles, nano-hexagons, and nano-disks) and quantum dots, has been demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Photoreduction for the GO occurred during irradiation by the pulsed laser. The GO quantum dots exhibit a blue photoluminescence, originating from recombination of the localized carriers in the zigzag-edge states.