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Supramolecular Surface Engineering of Carbon Dots enables Matrix-free Room Temperature Phosphorescence
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  • Tao Zhang,
  • Xiaoyan Wu,
  • Lele Liu,
  • Yuxiang Yang,
  • Jialuo Zhuang,
  • Zijian Li,
  • Hong Bi
Tao Zhang
Anhui University
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Xiaoyan Wu
Anhui University
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Lele Liu
Anhui University
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Yuxiang Yang
Anhui University
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Jialuo Zhuang
Anhui University
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Zijian Li
Anhui University
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Hong Bi
Anhui University

Corresponding Author:bihong@ahu.edu.cn

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Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) are an emerging class of nanomaterials with intriguing photophysical properties. Recently, achieving room-temperature phosphores-cence (RTP) for CDs have attracted considerable attention for biomedical and information applications. However, the CDs based RTP materials generally require the use of polymeric and inorganic matrix to provide the rigid environments, which remains a great challenge to obtain matrix-free CDs with RTP. Herein, a novel supramolecular strategy based on strong interparticle interactions has been developed to attain this objective, by covalent decoration of ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy, a multiple hydrogen bonding unit) on the surface of CDs. Structural characterizations validated the core-shell structure of the as-prepared CDs (EDTA-CDs) and demonstrated the successful attachment of UPy via post-modification (UPy-CDs). The presence of UPy recognition units render the strong hydrogen bonding between UPy-CDs, which stabilizes the triplet state via rigidifying effect. As a result, UPy-CDs exhibit matrix-free efficient RTP (λem = 534 nm) with high brightness and long lifetime (33.6 ms) in the solid state. Owing to the dual-emission character, we further explored the application potential of UPy-CDs in information encryption and anti-counterfeiting. Overall, this work provides a new and facile strategy for achieving matrix-free phosphorescent CDs with elegant incorporation of supramolecular chemistry.
12 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
20 Apr 20231st Revision Received
21 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
21 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Apr 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Apr 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 May 2023Editorial Decision: Accept