Carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoes
Abstract Water seepage is one of the main factors leading to the damage of grottoes. The sources and pathways of water seepage need to be identified to relieve it. Although the sources and pathways are investigated using geophysical exploration methods commonly, the results are unsatisfactory due to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Heritage Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-023-01058-4 |
| _version_ | 1797557326690910208 |
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| author | Bo Sun Fenyan Ma Huyuan Zhang Ningbo Peng Peng Zhang |
| author_facet | Bo Sun Fenyan Ma Huyuan Zhang Ningbo Peng Peng Zhang |
| author_sort | Bo Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Water seepage is one of the main factors leading to the damage of grottoes. The sources and pathways of water seepage need to be identified to relieve it. Although the sources and pathways are investigated using geophysical exploration methods commonly, the results are unsatisfactory due to the limitation of resolution. The tracer method has been widely used to examine water seepage in the natural sciences and engineering. However, most tracers have an impact on grottoes, making this method inapplicable. This study was the first to use the carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage in grottoes. The characteristics of the carbon quantum dots, which was synthesized by various biomass precursors through large-scale synthesis in the field, were analyzed to determine the optimal precursor. The structure, fluorescence intensity, and water solubility of the carbon quantum dots were evaluated. Laboratory tests were designed to examine the transport properties of the carbon quantum dots in rocks and cracks. The results showed that the carbon quantum dots synthesized by Ginkgo biloba were small and had uniform size, excellent fluorescence, good water solubility and transport ability. Furthermore, the carbon quantum dots were successfully used to tracing the source of water seepage at the chest of the Leshan Giant Buddha. The low cost of synthesis, wide precursors, easy and convenient synthesis methods, friendliness to grottoes, and excellent performance of the carbon quantum dots as a tracer suggest the efficacy of this method. These findings could lead to the widespread use of tracer method in studies of water seepage in grottoes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:15:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b4e2c8e41317422c8fac12995481ce62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7445 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:15:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b4e2c8e41317422c8fac12995481ce622023-11-20T10:31:28ZengSpringerOpenHeritage Science2050-74452023-10-0111111010.1186/s40494-023-01058-4Carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoesBo Sun0Fenyan Ma1Huyuan Zhang2Ningbo Peng3Peng Zhang4College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou UniversityCollege of Energy and Power Engineering, Lanzhou University of TechnologyCollege of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou UniversityFaculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of TechnologyHeritage conservation center, Northwest Research Institute Limited Company of China Railway Engineering CorporationAbstract Water seepage is one of the main factors leading to the damage of grottoes. The sources and pathways of water seepage need to be identified to relieve it. Although the sources and pathways are investigated using geophysical exploration methods commonly, the results are unsatisfactory due to the limitation of resolution. The tracer method has been widely used to examine water seepage in the natural sciences and engineering. However, most tracers have an impact on grottoes, making this method inapplicable. This study was the first to use the carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage in grottoes. The characteristics of the carbon quantum dots, which was synthesized by various biomass precursors through large-scale synthesis in the field, were analyzed to determine the optimal precursor. The structure, fluorescence intensity, and water solubility of the carbon quantum dots were evaluated. Laboratory tests were designed to examine the transport properties of the carbon quantum dots in rocks and cracks. The results showed that the carbon quantum dots synthesized by Ginkgo biloba were small and had uniform size, excellent fluorescence, good water solubility and transport ability. Furthermore, the carbon quantum dots were successfully used to tracing the source of water seepage at the chest of the Leshan Giant Buddha. The low cost of synthesis, wide precursors, easy and convenient synthesis methods, friendliness to grottoes, and excellent performance of the carbon quantum dots as a tracer suggest the efficacy of this method. These findings could lead to the widespread use of tracer method in studies of water seepage in grottoes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-023-01058-4Water seepageGrottoesCarbon quantum dotsTrace method |
| spellingShingle | Bo Sun Fenyan Ma Huyuan Zhang Ningbo Peng Peng Zhang Carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoes Heritage Science Water seepage Grottoes Carbon quantum dots Trace method |
| title | Carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoes |
| title_full | Carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoes |
| title_fullStr | Carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoes |
| title_short | Carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoes |
| title_sort | carbon quantum dots as a tracer of water seepage sources and pathways in grottoes |
| topic | Water seepage Grottoes Carbon quantum dots Trace method |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-023-01058-4 |
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