Scholarlink

Abstract <p>Carbon dots (CDs) are a promising class of carbon-based nanomaterials, yet precise size control remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate that the size of CDs can be effectively regulated by adjusting the amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) during one-pot hydrothermal synthesis. Characterization revealed that CD size first increased and then decreased with rising SDS content, accompanied by corresponding changes in carbonization degree. Fluorescence analysis further showed that carbon-core emission intensity exhibited size-dependent behavior. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using citric acid–ethylenediamine oligomers (CA-ED-4) revealed that SDS regulates precursor aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner: Low SDS promotes large aggregates and larger CDs, whereas high SDS disrupts aggregation and yields smaller CDs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that SDS weakens intermolecular interactions, reducing aggregate stability. Together, these results provide experimental and theoretical evidence that SDS modulates CD size by controlling precursor aggregation, offering a simple and generalizable strategy for the controllable synthesis of CDs with tunable properties for photocatalysis, bioimaging, and sensing.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Controlled synthesis and mechanism analysis of carbon dot size

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月16日

查看全文
  • Yingdong Zhang,
  • Chingcheng Huang,
  • Dongmei Yue

摘要

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) are a promising class of carbon-based nanomaterials, yet precise size control remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate that the size of CDs can be effectively regulated by adjusting the amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) during one-pot hydrothermal synthesis. Characterization revealed that CD size first increased and then decreased with rising SDS content, accompanied by corresponding changes in carbonization degree. Fluorescence analysis further showed that carbon-core emission intensity exhibited size-dependent behavior. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using citric acid–ethylenediamine oligomers (CA-ED-4) revealed that SDS regulates precursor aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner: Low SDS promotes large aggregates and larger CDs, whereas high SDS disrupts aggregation and yields smaller CDs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that SDS weakens intermolecular interactions, reducing aggregate stability. Together, these results provide experimental and theoretical evidence that SDS modulates CD size by controlling precursor aggregation, offering a simple and generalizable strategy for the controllable synthesis of CDs with tunable properties for photocatalysis, bioimaging, and sensing.

Graphical abstract