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Research Article

Graphene quantum dots derived from hollow carbon nano-onions

Chenguang Zhang1,3Jiajun Li2Xianshun Zeng1Zhihao Yuan1,3( )Naiqin Zhao2,4( )
School of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin University of TechnologyTianjin300384China
School of Materials Science and EngineeringTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
Tianjin Key Lab for Photoelectric Materials & DevicesTianjin300384China
Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and EngineeringTianjin UniversityTianjin300072China
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Abstract

Herein, carbon nano-onions (CNOs) with different structures have been investigated as precursors for the synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). It was found that hollow CNOs yield GQDs with a uniform size distribution, whereas metal encapsulation in the CNO structure is disadvantageous for the same. Furthermore, the hollow CNOs are also advantageous for the synthesis of GQDs with a yellow-green hybrid luminescence and long-ranged excitation wavelength (λex)-independent photoluminescent (PL) behavior, in which the λex upper limit was 480 nm. These features enable safe sensing and cell tracking applications with a longer excitation wavelength in the visible light region. The potential applications of the synthesized GQDs as fluorescent sensing probes for detecting Cu(Ⅱ) ions and non-toxic cell imaging under visible light excitation have been demonstrated. This means that sensing and bioimaging can be accomplished in the natural environment with no need for UV excitation. This work provides a reference to researchers in tailoring CNO structures in terms of their inner space to synthesize GQDs with the desired luminescence behavior.

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Nano Research
Pages 174-184
Cite this article:
Zhang C, Li J, Zeng X, et al. Graphene quantum dots derived from hollow carbon nano-onions. Nano Research, 2018, 11(1): 174-184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1617-0

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Received: 30 January 2017
Revised: 06 April 2017
Accepted: 09 April 2017
Published: 27 June 2017
© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017
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