Design and Synthesis of Core–Shell Carbon Polymer Dots with Highly Stable Fluorescence in Polymeric Materials

Abstract

In recent years, fluorescent carbon dots have attracted great attention due to their good luminescence and low toxicity. Here, blue fluorescent core-shell structured carbon polymer dots (CPDs) with high stability under a wide range of pH values, long storage time and excellent fluorescence in various solvents and even in solid state were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis of dendritic tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TAEA) and citric acid. The CPDs core structure provides strong fluorescent luminescence, a shell structure of the core possesses high amount of dendritic primary amino groups connected by ethylene groups to the core. This unique structure prevents aggregation of the cores and self-quenching effect of CPDs. As a result, the CPDs have high fluorescence in both aqueous and hydrophobic solutions and even as pure solid-state powder. In addition, the CPDs are also insensitive to pH of solutions, and the fluorescence intensity of the solution was stable in the pH range of 4-14. The CPDs embedded polymer films and fibers revealed excellent fluorescent properties.