Physics

Geology

Nanotechnology

Engineering physics

Composite number

Optics

Oceanography

Carbon fibers

Luminescence

Composite material

Materials science

Photonics

Aggregation-induced emission

Optoelectronics

Depth sounding

Fluorescence

C – Journal of Carbon Research

The emission properties of carbon dots (CDs) have already found many potential applications, from bio-imaging and cell labelling, to optical imaging and drug delivery, and are largely investigated in technological fields, such as lighting and photonics. Besides their high efficiency emission, CDs are also virtually nontoxic and can be prepared through many green chemistry routes. Despite these important features, the very origin of their luminescence is still debated. In this paper, we present an overview of sounding data and the main models proposed to explain the emission properties of CDs and their tunability.

On the Emission Properties of Carbon Dots: Reviewing Data and Discussing Models