The use of carbon quantum dots as fluorescent materials in white LEDs

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have attracted a lot of attention for their potential applications in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), ion detection, bioimaging, solar technology and photocatalysis. Among these, LEDs, mainly white LEDs, have become a research focus and have developed rapidly. Recent advances in white LEDs constructed from different fluorescent materials, including the CQD-containing composites and single CQDs, are described. Research on white LEDs based on single CQDs are highlighted. Finally, some problems and prospects relating to the use of single CQDs in white LEDs are given to point out the improvements required in the fluorescent properties of CQDs, which play a key role in white LEDs.