Green and Facile Synthesis of Luminescent CQDs from Pomegranate Peels and its Utilization in the Degradation of Azure B and Amido Black 10B by Decorating it on CuO Nanorods

Abstract

Abstract Green fluorescent water‐soluble carbon quantum dots (CQDs) of size 6 nm were fabricated by carbonization of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels at a mild temperature of 160 °C for 12 h. The CuO NRs were prepared by the precipitation method. The formation of CQDs and CuO nanorods (NRs) was confirmed. The chemical composition and morphological features of CQD, CuO, and composite (CuO/CQDs) are characterized by XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, FTIR, EDX, XPS, and BET. XRD and TEM analysis shows the amorphous nature of CQDs and the monoclinic nature of CuO NRs. The CuO NRs decorated with CQDs have given the maximum photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Azure B (97 %) and Amido black 10 B (94 %) than CuO NRs alone. Several water quality parameters have been measured before and after degradation. Hence bio‐based luminescent CQDs with a high yield were synthesized for the first time through a greener route.