Rapid hydrothermal method for the preparation of carbon quantum dots in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been studied for years as one of the most promising fluorescent nanomaterials. Herein, CQDs were prepared rapidly by a simple, eco‐friendly one‐pot hydrothermal method in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Different sizes of CQDs are obtained by changing the reaction time. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry demonstrated the existence of a large number of oxygen‐containing groups on the surface of CQDs. The as‐prepared CQDs exhibited bright yellow luminescence under UV light, they are applied for bioimaging of HeLa cells, and showed bright luminescence and excellent biocompatibility.