Red-emissive carbon dots(R-CDs)have been widely studied because of their potential application in tissue imaging and optoelectronic devices.At present,most R-CDs are synthesized by using aromatic precursors,but the sy...Red-emissive carbon dots(R-CDs)have been widely studied because of their potential application in tissue imaging and optoelectronic devices.At present,most R-CDs are synthesized by using aromatic precursors,but the synthesis of R-CDs from non-aromatic precursors is challenging,and the emission mechanism remains unclear.Herein,different R-CDs were rationally synthesized using citric acid(CA),a prototype non-aromatic precursor,with the assistance of ammonia.Their structural evolution and optical mechanism were investigated.The addition of NH_(3)·H_(2)O played a key role in the synthesis of CA-based R-CDs,which shifted the emission wavelength of CA-based CDs from 423 to 667 nm.Mass spectrometry(MS)analysis indicated that the amino groups served as N dopants and promoted the formation of localized conjugated domains through an intermolecular amide ring,thereby inducing a significant emission redshift.The red-emissive mechanism of CDs was further confirmed by control experiments using other CA-like molecules(e.g.,aconitic acid,tartaric acid,aspartic acid,malic acid,and maleic acid)as precursors.MS,nuclear magnetic resonance characterization,and computational modeling revealed that the main carbon chain length of CA-like precursors tailored the cyclization mode,leading to hexatomic,pentatomic,unstable three/four-membered ring systems or cyclization failure.Among these systems,the hexatomic ring led to the largest emission redshift(244 nm,known for CA-based CDs).This work determined the origin of red emission in CA-based CDs,which would guide research on the controlled synthesis of R-CDs from other non-aromatic precursors.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52122308,21905253,51973200,and 52103239)Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(202300410372)Henan Postdoctoral Foundation。
文摘Red-emissive carbon dots(R-CDs)have been widely studied because of their potential application in tissue imaging and optoelectronic devices.At present,most R-CDs are synthesized by using aromatic precursors,but the synthesis of R-CDs from non-aromatic precursors is challenging,and the emission mechanism remains unclear.Herein,different R-CDs were rationally synthesized using citric acid(CA),a prototype non-aromatic precursor,with the assistance of ammonia.Their structural evolution and optical mechanism were investigated.The addition of NH_(3)·H_(2)O played a key role in the synthesis of CA-based R-CDs,which shifted the emission wavelength of CA-based CDs from 423 to 667 nm.Mass spectrometry(MS)analysis indicated that the amino groups served as N dopants and promoted the formation of localized conjugated domains through an intermolecular amide ring,thereby inducing a significant emission redshift.The red-emissive mechanism of CDs was further confirmed by control experiments using other CA-like molecules(e.g.,aconitic acid,tartaric acid,aspartic acid,malic acid,and maleic acid)as precursors.MS,nuclear magnetic resonance characterization,and computational modeling revealed that the main carbon chain length of CA-like precursors tailored the cyclization mode,leading to hexatomic,pentatomic,unstable three/four-membered ring systems or cyclization failure.Among these systems,the hexatomic ring led to the largest emission redshift(244 nm,known for CA-based CDs).This work determined the origin of red emission in CA-based CDs,which would guide research on the controlled synthesis of R-CDs from other non-aromatic precursors.
