Hydrothermal synthesis of blue-green emitting carbon dots based on the liquid products of biodegradation of coal

Summary The liquid products of biodegradation of coal (LPBC) without further separation and purification are generally difficult to apply. In this study, a simple and low-cost method had been described for the preparation of carbon dots (CDs) by hydrothermal treatment of original LPBC. The as-synthesized CDs scence emission intensity when possessed narrowly distributed sizes and a mean diameter of 3.5 nm, and they showed significant excitation-dependent fluorescence emission. Meanwhile, the CDs exhibited good water solubility and photo-, metal ions-stability. Furthermore, the fluorescent emission intensity of CDs had been demonstrated sensitivity to pH value and temperature, showing great promise in sensor application.