Charge transfer in graphene quantum dots coupled with tetrathiafulvalenes

Abstract

Water-soluble fluorescent graphene quantum dots have been successfully prepared through a top-down approach, that is, starting with graphite, and covalently functionalizing it with π-extended tetrathiafulvalene. Charge transfer investigations reveal noticeably slower charge recombination when compared with exTTF nanoconjugates featuring carbon nanodots, for which a larger presence of trap states is observed.