Preparation and characterization of blue-emitting carbon quantum dots and their silicone rubber composites

In this study, blue-emitting carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been directly synthesized via an ultrasonic method using starch soluble as the carbon source. The CQDs were modified by using γ-methacryloxy propyl trimethoxyl silane (KH570). The modified CQDs were then combined with silicone rubber (SR) through a hydrosilylation reaction to fabricate CQDs/SR composites. The results indicated that the average size of the as-prepared CQDs was approximately 2.6 nm, with a distribution between 1.0 and 4.0 nm. The CQDs modified by KH570 were well dispersed in the SR, which can effectively prevent the fluorescence quenching of the CQDs due to agglomeration. Remarkably, the as-prepared CQDs/SR composites emitting bright blue fluorescence have high transparency, great mechanical properties and good thermal stability, thereby facilitating enormous potential applications in a wide variety of fields such as optoelectronic devices and LEDs.