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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing SERS Technology: Au@Carbon Dot Nanoprobes for Label-Free Analysis and Imaging
Published on: June 9, 2023
Tuning the fluorescence performance of carbon dots with a reduction pathway
Dongjun Shen1, Yijuan Long, Jie Wang
1Key Laboratory on Luminescence and Real-Time Analysis, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China. zhenghz@swu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
A reduction pathway was developed to tune the fluorescence quantum yield (QY) and emission wavelength of carbon dots (CDs). Reducing the original CDs (QY ca. 1.55%, maximum emission ca. 520 nm) with NaBH4 increased QY to 7.25% and blue-shifted the maximum emission to 450 nm. Treating the original CDs with LiAlH4 increased QY to ca. 7.44% and blue-shifted the maximum emission to 345 nm. The distinct fluorescence characteristics of the original CDs, NaBH4-treated CDs, and LiAlH4-treated CDs were conferred by their differing surface groups. Moreover, the original CDs, NaBH4-treated CDs, and LiAlH4-treated CDs responded differently to a specific oxidizer of hydroxyl groups. The increase in the fluorescence QY and blue-shift of the emission wavelength were explained. This study provides a foundation for the preparation and tuning of CDs with excellent fluorescence performance, as well as for the development CD-based fluorescent probes.
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