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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing SERS Technology: Au@Carbon Dot Nanoprobes for Label-Free Analysis and Imaging
Published on: June 9, 2023
Orange, yellow and blue luminescent carbon dots controlled by surface state for multicolor cellular imaging, light
Chang Liu1, Ruijie Wang1, Bin Wang1
1Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Abstract:
Three kinds of carbon dots (CDs) with different photoluminescence (PL) (blue, yellow or orange) were synthesized by microwave heating. They display wavelength-independent excitation wavelengths (in the range from 444 to 574 nm), similar average particle size (from 3.7 to 4.2 nm), and fluorescence lifetimes (from 2.7 to 3.1 ns). Color and quantum yields (from 8 to 45% in ethanol) are related to the oxidation degree and the number of N-functional groups on their surface. The CDs are shown to be viable nanoprobes for multicolor imaging of cells. Three composite phosphors were obtained by coating the various CDs on starch particle. The resulting nanomaterials emit solid-state fluorescence with a quantum yield of ≥16%. They were used to fabricate luminescent blocks and light-emitting diodes with controllable color temperature. Graphical abstract (a) The synthesis process of the three carbon dots (CDs). The application in cell imaging (b), starch/CD phosphors (c), starch/CD phosphors-based luminescent blocks (d) and light-emitting diodes (e). (λex: excitation wavelength).
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Dot Product
In engineering, the dot product of any two vectors is the product of the magnitudes of the vectors and the cosine of the angle between them. It is denoted by a dot symbol between the two vectors.
Consider a vehicle pulling an object along the ground using a rope. If the rope makes an angle with the horizontal axis, the work done can be calculated using the dot product of the force applied and the object's displacement.
The dot...
The Dot Product

