Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Surface Properties of Synthesized Nanoporous Carbon and Silica Matrices
Published on: March 27, 2019
Small molecular organic nanocrystals resemble carbon nanodots in terms of their properties
Syamantak Khan1, Akshita Sharma1, Sourav Ghoshal2
1School of Basic Science , Indian Institute of Technology Mandi , Mandi-175001 , HP , India .
Abstract:
The most commonly observed phenomena in carbon nanodots (CNDs) are the strong excitation wavelength dependent multicolor fluorescence emission and the particle size distribution between 3-5 nm observed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). However, it is not evident yet whether the emission originates from the particles observed using a TEM. In this article, we show that hydrothermal treatment of citric acid produces methylenesuccinic acid, which gives rise to hydrogen-bonded nano-assemblies with CND-like properties. While single crystal X-ray crystallography confirms the structure of methylenesuccinic acid, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) confirms the presence of a molecular fluorophore with an average hydrodynamic diameter of ∼0.9 nm. This size is much smaller than the size of the particles observed using a TEM. We conclude that the particles observed using a TEM are the drying mediated nanocrystals of methylenesuccinic acid.
Related Concept Videos
The Carbon Cycle
Kinetic Molecular Theory and Gas Laws Explain Properties of Gas Molecules
Carbon Skeletons
Organic Compounds
Molecular Compounds: Formulas and Nomenclature
Molecular and Ionic Solids
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...

