High-energy short-wave blue light conversion films via carbon quantum dots for preventing retinal photochemical damage

It is urgent to develop anti-high-energy short-wave blue light films for preventing retinal damage. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with robust optical tuning properties are potential candidates for addressing the issue. Here, bright yellow CQDs (Y-CQDs) with quantum yields up to 71% are synthesized via the alkali-catalyzed molecular fusion strategy, which demonstrates excellent anti-short-wave blue light performance. To construct anti-short-wave blue light WLEDs, the flexible transparent Y-CQD/PVA films are manufactured by mixing Y-CQDs and PVA, whose short-wave blue light conversion performance is further verified by being applied on R-, G-, B-LEDs, and WLED. Furthermore, a series of biological experiments regarding retinal protection from photochemical damage is further conducted, verifying that the Y-CQD/PVA films (≥20 wt%) have a significant protective effect on the retina. Our discoveries endow CQDs with a permit into the field of light conversion and will propel the progress of carbon-based optical materials for manufacturing forward-looking anti-short-wave blue light films and devices.