Red/NIR C-dots: A perspective from carbon precursors, photoluminescence tuning and bioapplications

Red/NIR carbon dots (C-dots) have obtained enormous interest in last decade thanks to their significant potentials in the biomedical fields. In this article, recent advancements on the synthesis approaches and carbon precursors for red/NIR C-dots preparation are comprehensively elaborated. Then reports on the fluorescence mechanism and emission manipulation of red/NIR C-dots are carefully discussed and highlighted. Furthermore, the recent progress of red/NIR C-dots for their biomedical applications are also closely surveyed. Last, perspective on the future trends of red/NIR C-dots is carefully proposed.