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Vol.3 , No. 6, Publication Date: Nov. 25, 2017, Page: 83-93
 from coconut shell, a natural biomass as a carbon precursor using a single step hydrothermal carbonization. These CQDs exhibited blue fluorescence over excitation wavelengths of 300–380 nm and green luminescence over excitation wavelengths of 400-490 nm. Structural and morphological characterization were carried out using TEM, XRD, Raman and FTIR. As synthesized CQDs were in the size range of 3 to 5 nm as observed in the TEM, while XRD results confirmed their crystalline nature. Raman spectroscopic measurements exhibited the characteristic “D” (1380 cm<sup>-1</sup>) and “G” (1596 cm<sup>-1</sup>) bands confirming the formation of low dimensional carbon nanostructures. Optical properties of these CQDs were probed using UV-visible spectrometry and room temperature Photoluminescence measurements. The UV-visible spectrum showed a strong absorption at 283 nm. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl functional moieties on the surface of the CQDs, which play a crucial role in surface passivation leading to more stable nanoparticle dispersions. The CQDs exhibited pH sensitivity over a wide pH range of 4–11. This property can be exploited to develop a fluorescence based pH sensor. The high antioxidant activity achieved using low concentration of CQDs (EC50=25 <i>µ</i>g/mL) could find potential applications in the treatment of various cancers and also food packaging. Less than 5% hemolysis suggests that these CQDs are biocompatible and can be used for various <i>in vivo</i> applications.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/891.jpg)
| [1] | Lakshmi Adinarayana Avinash Chunduri, Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
| [2] | Aditya Kurdekar, Laboratories for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthinilayam, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
| [3] | Sandeep Patnaik, Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
| [4] | Rajasekhar, Department of Physics, Rayalaseema University, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
| [5] | Saikiran Aditha, Laboratories for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthinilayam, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
| [6] | Chinnakota Prathibha, Laboratories for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthinilayam, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
| [7] | Venkataramaniah Kamisetti, Laboratories for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthinilayam, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
In this paper we report green synthesis of water soluble, monodisperse, and highly fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from coconut shell, a natural biomass as a carbon precursor using a single step hydrothermal carbonization. These CQDs exhibited blue fluorescence over excitation wavelengths of 300–380 nm and green luminescence over excitation wavelengths of 400-490 nm. Structural and morphological characterization were carried out using TEM, XRD, Raman and FTIR. As synthesized CQDs were in the size range of 3 to 5 nm as observed in the TEM, while XRD results confirmed their crystalline nature. Raman spectroscopic measurements exhibited the characteristic “D” (1380 cm-1) and “G” (1596 cm-1) bands confirming the formation of low dimensional carbon nanostructures. Optical properties of these CQDs were probed using UV-visible spectrometry and room temperature Photoluminescence measurements. The UV-visible spectrum showed a strong absorption at 283 nm. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl functional moieties on the surface of the CQDs, which play a crucial role in surface passivation leading to more stable nanoparticle dispersions. The CQDs exhibited pH sensitivity over a wide pH range of 4–11. This property can be exploited to develop a fluorescence based pH sensor. The high antioxidant activity achieved using low concentration of CQDs (EC50=25 µg/mL) could find potential applications in the treatment of various cancers and also food packaging. Less than 5% hemolysis suggests that these CQDs are biocompatible and can be used for various in vivo applications.
Keywords
Coconut Shell, Carbon Quantum Dots, Antioxidant Efficacy, Hemotoxicity, pH Sensor
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