Coal as an abundant source of graphene quantum dots

Ruquan Ye, Changsheng Xiang, Jian Lin, Zhiwei Peng, Kewei Huang, Zheng Yan, Nathan P. Cook, Errol L.G. Samuel, Chih-Chau Hwang, Gedeng Ruan, Gabriel Ceriotti, Abdul-Rahman O. Raji, Angel A. Martí and James M. Tour ()
Additional contact information
Ruquan Ye: Rice University
Changsheng Xiang: Rice University
Jian Lin: Rice University
Zhiwei Peng: Rice University
Kewei Huang: Rice University
Zheng Yan: Rice University
Nathan P. Cook: Rice University
Errol L.G. Samuel: Rice University
Chih-Chau Hwang: Rice University
Gedeng Ruan: Rice University
Gabriel Ceriotti: Rice University
Abdul-Rahman O. Raji: Rice University
Angel A. Martí: Rice University
James M. Tour: Rice University

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Coal is the most abundant and readily combustible energy resource being used worldwide. However, its structural characteristic creates a perception that coal is only useful for producing energy via burning. Here we report a facile approach to synthesize tunable graphene quantum dots from various types of coal, and establish that the unique coal structure has an advantage over pure sp2-carbon allotropes for producing quantum dots. The crystalline carbon within the coal structure is easier to oxidatively displace than when pure sp2-carbon structures are used, resulting in nanometre-sized graphene quantum dots with amorphous carbon addends on the edges. The synthesized graphene quantum dots, produced in up to 20% isolated yield from coal, are soluble and fluorescent in aqueous solution, providing promise for applications in areas such as bioimaging, biomedicine, photovoltaics and optoelectronics, in addition to being inexpensive additives for structural composites.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3943

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