Gram-scale synthesis of single-crystalline graphene quantum dots with superior optical properties

Liang Wang, Yanli Wang, Tao Xu, Haobo Liao, Chenjie Yao, Yuan Liu, Zhen Li, Zhiwen Chen, Dengyu Pan (), Litao Sun () and Minghong Wu ()
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Liang Wang: Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University
Yanli Wang: Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University
Tao Xu: SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Southeast University
Haobo Liao: Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University
Chenjie Yao: Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University
Yuan Liu: Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University
Zhen Li: Shanghai Applied Radiation Institute, Shanghai University
Zhiwen Chen: Shanghai Applied Radiation Institute, Shanghai University
Dengyu Pan: Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University
Litao Sun: SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Southeast University
Minghong Wu: Shanghai Applied Radiation Institute, Shanghai University

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have various alluring properties and potential applications, but their large-scale applications are limited by current synthetic methods that commonly produce GQDs in small amounts. Moreover, GQDs usually exhibit polycrystalline or highly defective structures and thus poor optical properties. Here we report the gram-scale synthesis of single-crystalline GQDs by a facile molecular fusion route under mild and green hydrothermal conditions. The synthesis involves the nitration of pyrene followed by hydrothermal treatment in alkaline aqueous solutions, where alkaline species play a crucial role in tuning their size, functionalization and optical properties. The single-crystalline GQDs are bestowed with excellent optical properties such as bright excitonic fluorescence, strong excitonic absorption bands extending to the visible region, large molar extinction coefficients and long-term photostability. These high-quality GQDs can find a large array of novel applications in bioimaging, biosensing, light emitting diodes, solar cells, hydrogen production, fuel cells and supercapacitors.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6357

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