Microwave–hydrothermal synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from graphite oxide

Graphite oxide (GO), candle soot, conductive carbon black and lampblack were used to prepare fluorescent carbon dots (CDots) by heating under reflux in nitric acid. The CDots prepared from GO exhibited the highest quantum yield and narrowest emission of those produced. Microwave-assisted techniques were also used to synthesize CDots. Compared with conventional heating under reflux, microwave-assisted heating under reflux and a microwave–hydrothermal method both shortened the reaction time. CDots prepared using microwave-assisted techniques exhibited increased absorption, higher quantum yield and longer fluorescence lifetime than those prepared by conventional heating under reflux.