Silane-Functionalized Carbon Dots and Their Polymerized Hybrids: From Optoelectronics to Biotherapy

Nanomaterials usually manifest unique properties in solutions but will be undermined in the solid state. It is necessary to incorporate them into substrates or hybrid them with other functional materials for multiple devices and applications. Though there are a variety of methods to inherit their intrinsic properties like fluorescent and mechanical performance, most nanohybrid materials would lose their transparency irreversibly when construct solid-state devices. As a hot topic of nanomaterials in recent years, scientific works found a type of carbon dots using silane coupling agents as precursors that can overcome the shortcoming. These carbon dots, called silane-functionalized carbon dots (SiCDs), are catching increasing interest due to their versatility. Silane coupling agents endow SiCDs with the ability to disperse in solvents or polymerize with matrices by blending or covalent bonds without loss of transparency and decline of performance. The distinguishing features make SiCDs an ideal high transmittance, high doping concentration nanomaterial. The synergistic effect of SiCDs and hybridized sol-gel solid structures can not only hold the optical features of CDs but also enhance their original physical and chemical performance. This highlight focuses on the connection between SiCDs and organosilanes. Plus, preparation methods, applications, and prospective of SiCDs are mentioned.