Graphene quantum dots derived from carbon fibers.
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are edge-bound nanometer-size graphene pieces, have fascinating optical and electronic properties. These have been synthesized either by nanolithography or from starting materials such as graphene oxide (GO) by the chemical breakdown of their extended planar structure, both of which are multistep tedious processes. Here, we report that during the acid treatment and chemical exfoliation of traditional pitch-based carbon fibers, that are both cheap and commercially available, the stacked graphitic submicrometer domains of the fibers are easily broken down, leading to the creation of GQDs with different size distribution in scalable amounts. The as-produced GQDs, in the size range of 1-4 nm, show two-dimensional morphology, most of which present zigzag edge structure, and are 1-3 atomic layers thick. The photoluminescence of the GQDs can be tailored through varying the size of the GQDs by changing process parameters. Due to the luminescence stability, nanosecond lifetime, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and high water solubility, these GQDs are demonstrated to be excellent probes for high contrast bioimaging and biosensing applications.
Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
Juan
J
Peng
Wei
W
Gao
Bipin Kumar
BK
Gupta
Zheng
Z
Liu
Rebeca
R
Romero-Aburto
Liehui
L
Ge
Li
L
Song
Lawrence B
LB
Alemany
Xiaobo
X
Zhan
Guanhui
G
Gao
Sajna Antony
SA
Vithayathil
Benny Abraham
BA
Kaipparettu
Angel A
AA
Marti
Takuya
T
Hayashi
Jun-Jie
JJ
Zhu
Pulickel M
PM
Ajayan
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005453:Fluorescence; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012995:Solubility; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D002244:Carbon; D006108:Graphite