Boron-doped carbon dots: Doping strategies, performance effects, and applications

Due to their superior fluorescence, phosphorescence, and catalytic capabilities, carbon dots (CDs), an emerging class of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials, have a wide range of potential applications. The properties of CDs have recently been controlled extensively by heteroatom doping. Boron atoms have been effectively doped into the structure of CDs due to their similar size to carbon atoms and excellent electron-absorbing ability to further improve the performance of CDs. In this review, we summarize the research progress of boron-doped CDs in recent years from the aspects of doping strategies, effects of boron doping on different performances of CDs and applications. Starting from the two aspects of single boron doping and boron and other atom co-doping, from different precursor materials to different synthesis methods, the doping strategies of boron-doped CDs are reviewed in detail. Then, the effects of boron doping on the fluorescence, phosphorescence and catalytic performance of CDs and applications of boron-doped CDs in optical sensors, information encryption and anti-counterfeiting are discussed. Finally, we further provide a prospect towards the future development of boron-doped CDs.