Post-decorated surface fluorophores enhance the photoluminescence of carbon quantum dots

Abstract Photoluminescence (PL) is the center property to deploy carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in diverse applications although their physicochemical origin is still debated. Herein, carboxylic-terminated CQDs were synthesized from citric acid (CA) and treated sequentially with ethylenediamine (EDA). Infrared, magnetic, X-ray photoelectron and UV–Vis spectroscopies indicated the formation of surface fluorophores by the EDA treatment. The post-decorated surface fluorophores accounted for a resolved UV absorption band at 346 nm, which originated from HOMO → LUMO transition in the fluorophores. The post-decorated fluorophores dominated the emission spectrum of CQDs when excited with wavelengths below 340 nm and enhanced the PL quantum yield of CQDs from 20.7% to 47.6%. The results pave new understanding on the optical properties of CQDs derived from CA and amines.