Rupturing C60 Molecules into Graphene-Oxide-like Quantum Dots: Structure, Photoluminescence, and Catalytic Application.
The large-scale synthesis of graphene-oxide-like quantum dots (GOLQDs) is reported by oxidizing C(60) molecules using a modified Hummers method with a yield of ≈25 wt% readily achieved. The GOLQDs are highly soluble in water and in addition to hexagons have other carbon rings in the structure. They have an average height of ≈1.2 nm and a diameter distribution of 0.6-2.2 nm after drying on substrates. First-principle calculations indicate that a possible rupturing route may include the insertion of oxygen atoms to CC bonds in the C(60) molecule, followed by rupture of that CC bonds. The GOLQD suspension has a strong photoluminescence (PL) with peak position dependent on excitation wavelength. The PL is related to the size and emissive traps caused by oxygen-containing groups. The GOLQDs also catalyze the oxidation of benzyl alcohol with a high selectivity.
Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy ConversionChinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Guanxiong
G
Chen
Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy ConversionChinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Zhiwen
Z
Zhuo
Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy ConversionChinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Kun
K
Ni
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 689-798, South Korea.
Na Yeon
NY
Kim
Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy ConversionChinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Yuan
Y
Zhao
Department of Chemical Physics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Zongwei
Z
Chen
Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy ConversionChinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Bin
B
Xiang
Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy ConversionChinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Lihua
L
Yang
Department of Chemical Physics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Qun
Q
Zhang
Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, 689-798, South Korea.
Zonghoon
Z
Lee
Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy ConversionChinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Xiaojun
X
Wu
Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials and Department of Chemistry and School of Materials Science, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, 689-798, South Korea.
Rodney S
RS
Ruoff
Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy ConversionChinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Yanwu
Y
Zhu
C60; catalyst; graphene oxide; graphene quantum dots; photoluminescence