Design of carbon quantum dots via hydrothermal carbonization synthesis from renewable precursors

This paper proposes the synthesis characterization and factorial design for the development and composition of carbon quantum dots (CQDs). These are promising nanomaterials obtained from two renewable precursors which are biomass-derived materials namely chitin (CH), chitosan (CS), and graphite (G) as a third material used. These raw materials are low cost, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. The combination of these nanoparticles at quantum composition dots has shown promising properties of high thermal conductivity and high solar absorption. The determination of composition of (CQDs)n using 32 full factorial design with two factors at (CH/CS) ratio and mass (G) was first realized. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the effect of band gap energy (Eband gap) engineering for semiconductor CQDs obtained via hydrothermal carbonization synthesis at 200 °C for 6 h and characterization of the composition (CQDs)9 to present Eband gap value of 3.16 eV and present the data with quantum yield of 17.1% thus promising for solar energy conversion application.