%0 Journal Article %J Chemistry-A European Journal %D 2012 %T Electrochemical preparation of luminescent graphene quantum dots from multiwalled carbon nanotubes %A Shinde, Dhanraj B. %A Pillai, Vijayamohanan K. %K electrochemical synthesis %K graphene %K Nanostructures %K photoluminescence %K quantum dots %X

Green luminescent, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with a uniform size of 3, 5, and 8.2(+/- 0.3) nm in diameter were prepared electrochemically from MWCNTs in propylene carbonate by using LiClO4 at 90?degrees C, whereas similar particles of 23(+/- 2) nm were obtained at 30?degrees C under identical conditions. Both these sets of GQDs displayed a remarkable quantum efficiency of 6.3 and 5.1?%, respectively. This method offers a novel strategy to synthesise size-tunable GQDs as evidenced by multiple characterisation techniques like transmission and scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Photoluminescence of these GQDs can be tailored by size variation through a systematic change in key process parameters, like diameter of carbon nanotube, electric field, concentration of supporting electrolyte and temperature. GQDs are promising candidates for a variety of applications, such as biomarkers, nanoelectronic devices and chemosensors due to their unique features, like high photostability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity and tunable solubility in water.

%B Chemistry-A European Journal %I WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH %C POSTFACH 101161, 69451 WEINHEIM, GERMANY %V 18 %P 12522-12528 %8 SEP %G eng %N 39 %3 Foreign %4 5.831 %R 10.1002/chem.201201043