Hydrophobic carbon dots with blue dispersed emission and red aggregation-induced emission

Haiyao Yang, Yingliang Liu (), Zhouyi Guo, Bingfu Lei, Jianle Zhuang, Xuejie Zhang, Zhiming Liu () and Chaofan Hu ()
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Haiyao Yang: South China Agricultural University
Yingliang Liu: South China Agricultural University
Zhouyi Guo: South China Normal University
Bingfu Lei: South China Agricultural University
Jianle Zhuang: South China Agricultural University
Xuejie Zhang: South China Agricultural University
Zhiming Liu: South China Normal University
Chaofan Hu: South China Agricultural University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Carbon dots (CDs) have been studied for years as one of the most promising fluorescent nanomaterials. However, CDs with red or solid-state fluorescence are rarely reported. Herein, through a one-pot solvothermal treatment, hydrophobic CDs (H-CDs) with blue dispersed emission and red aggregation-induced emission are obtained. When water is introduced, the hydrophobic interaction leads to aggregation of the H-CDs. The formation of H-CD clusters induces the turning off of the blue emission, as the carbonized cores suffer from π-π stacking interactions, and the turning on of the red fluorescence, due to restriction of the surfaces’ intramolecular rotation around disulfide bonds, which conforms to the aggregation-induced-emission phenomenon. This on-off fluorescence of the H-CDs is reversible when the H-CD powder is completely dissolved. Moreover, the H-CD solution dispersed in filter paper is nearly colorless. Finally, we develop a reversible two switch-mode luminescence ink for advanced anti-counterfeiting and dual-encryption.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09830-6

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