A Simple Approach for Synthesizing of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Tofu Wastewater

Abstract We present an investigation on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized from wastewater induced during the production of tofu. We find that tofu wastewater is a good source of raw material in making fluorescent CQDs. The corresponding CQDs can be fabricated simply via hydrothermal reaction to...

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Main Authors: Jin Zhang, Hong Wang, Yiming Xiao, Ju Tang, Changneng Liang, Fengyan Li, Haiming Dong, Wen Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2017-11-01
Series:Nanoscale Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s11671-017-2369-1
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author Jin Zhang
Hong Wang
Yiming Xiao
Ju Tang
Changneng Liang
Fengyan Li
Haiming Dong
Wen Xu
author_facet Jin Zhang
Hong Wang
Yiming Xiao
Ju Tang
Changneng Liang
Fengyan Li
Haiming Dong
Wen Xu
author_sort Jin Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We present an investigation on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized from wastewater induced during the production of tofu. We find that tofu wastewater is a good source of raw material in making fluorescent CQDs. The corresponding CQDs can be fabricated simply via hydrothermal reaction to carbonize the organic matter in the yellow serofluid of tofu wastewater. Two sorts of CQDs can be obtained within the deionized water and NaOH solution, respectively, where the CQDs in water (NaOH solution) can emit blue (green) light under the UV irradiation. It is found from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) that the basic difference between these two sorts of CQDs is the contents of C–O and C=O bonds on the surface of the CQDs. This difference can cause different features of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the CQDs. On the basis of the obtained results from the XPS and PL measurements, we propose a mechanism in understanding and explaining the photon-induced light emission from CQDs. This study is relevant to the fabrication and application of fluorescent CQDs as, e.g., light display materials.
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spelling doaj.art-8a4aad747da3433aba577e331eb5a7df2023-09-02T18:57:58ZengSpringerOpenNanoscale Research Letters1931-75731556-276X2017-11-011211710.1186/s11671-017-2369-1A Simple Approach for Synthesizing of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Tofu WastewaterJin Zhang0Hong Wang1Yiming Xiao2Ju Tang3Changneng Liang4Fengyan Li5Haiming Dong6Wen Xu7School of Physics and Astronomy and International Joint Research Center for Optoelectronic and Energy Materials, Yunnan UniversitySchool of Physics and Astronomy and International Joint Research Center for Optoelectronic and Energy Materials, Yunnan UniversitySchool of Physics and Astronomy and International Joint Research Center for Optoelectronic and Energy Materials, Yunnan UniversitySchool of Physics and Astronomy and International Joint Research Center for Optoelectronic and Energy Materials, Yunnan UniversitySchool of Physics and Astronomy and International Joint Research Center for Optoelectronic and Energy Materials, Yunnan UniversitySchool of Physics and Astronomy and International Joint Research Center for Optoelectronic and Energy Materials, Yunnan UniversityDepartment of Physics, China University of Mining and TechnologySchool of Physics and Astronomy and International Joint Research Center for Optoelectronic and Energy Materials, Yunnan UniversityAbstract We present an investigation on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized from wastewater induced during the production of tofu. We find that tofu wastewater is a good source of raw material in making fluorescent CQDs. The corresponding CQDs can be fabricated simply via hydrothermal reaction to carbonize the organic matter in the yellow serofluid of tofu wastewater. Two sorts of CQDs can be obtained within the deionized water and NaOH solution, respectively, where the CQDs in water (NaOH solution) can emit blue (green) light under the UV irradiation. It is found from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) that the basic difference between these two sorts of CQDs is the contents of C–O and C=O bonds on the surface of the CQDs. This difference can cause different features of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the CQDs. On the basis of the obtained results from the XPS and PL measurements, we propose a mechanism in understanding and explaining the photon-induced light emission from CQDs. This study is relevant to the fabrication and application of fluorescent CQDs as, e.g., light display materials.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s11671-017-2369-1FluorescenceCarbon quantum dotsTofu wastewaterHydrothermal reaction
spellingShingle Jin Zhang
Hong Wang
Yiming Xiao
Ju Tang
Changneng Liang
Fengyan Li
Haiming Dong
Wen Xu
A Simple Approach for Synthesizing of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Tofu Wastewater
Nanoscale Research Letters
Fluorescence
Carbon quantum dots
Tofu wastewater
Hydrothermal reaction
title A Simple Approach for Synthesizing of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Tofu Wastewater
title_full A Simple Approach for Synthesizing of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Tofu Wastewater
title_fullStr A Simple Approach for Synthesizing of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Tofu Wastewater
title_full_unstemmed A Simple Approach for Synthesizing of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Tofu Wastewater
title_short A Simple Approach for Synthesizing of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Tofu Wastewater
title_sort simple approach for synthesizing of fluorescent carbon quantum dots from tofu wastewater
topic Fluorescence
Carbon quantum dots
Tofu wastewater
Hydrothermal reaction
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s11671-017-2369-1
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