Yellow emissive and high fluorescence quantum yield carbon dots from perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride for anticounterfeiting applications

= 540 nm) with a high fluorescence quantum yield of 53.22% and a lifetime of 4 ns. The CDs appeared quasi-spherical during TEM imaging with an average diameter of 1-3 nm and appeared polycrystalline from the SAED pattern. The XPS and TEM-EDS results suggested carbon as the major element along with oxygen and nitrogen as the other heteroatoms. The water-based ecofriendly ink formulated using the CDs was printed on UV dull paper using the flexography technique. The print-proof paper samples appeared pale pink under daylight and fluorescent yellow upon 365 nm UV illumination. Moreover, the stability of the print was confirmed upon exposure to strong UV radiation cycles and abrasion resistance. Besides, the fluorescence emission remained unaltered even after 5 months of storage under room temperature conditions. The ink was used to print on PVC sheets and FBB boards with good stability against scuffing, suggesting its applicability in the packaging industry. The CDs could also serve as fluorescent markers for identifying post-consumer plastic packaging for a circular economy.