Progress in research on preparation and application of carbon dots

The preparation methods, luminescence mechanism and application research progress of carbon dots (CDs) were summarized. Approaches for synthesizing CDs were emphasized, and can be generally classified into two main ways: bottom-up and top-down methods. Top-down methods include arc discharge, laser ablation and electrochemical oxidation methods and others, and bottom-up approaches consist of combustion routes, template synthesis methods, hydrothermal methods, thermal methods and others. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods and fluorescent quantum yield were evaluated, and the research trend of these methods was prospected. It is pointed out that the synthetic/modified methods of CDs and the luminescence mechanism need to be further studied to improve the quantum yield in the future research, and it is crucial to synthetic CDs with the fluorescent which can be precisely, sensitively, rapidly and easily detected in the application of CDs as a new technique and a new method in all kinds of chemical detections and analysis. ©, 2015, Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials (BIAM). All right reserved.