Table sugar derived carbon dot—A promising green reducing agent

Abstract In the present work, carbon dots derived from Table sugar are used as a green reducing agent. Microwave assisted green synthesis is adopted for achieving bright cyan luminescent carbon dots from commercially available table sugar (sucrose). The particles are characterised by TEM analysis, XRD analysis, FTIR, XPS, Raman as well as photoluminescence spectral analyses. The system served as an environmentally benign reducing agent for Au(III) reduction. Gold nanoparticles of size ∼ 8.3 nm are achieved within seconds in presence of starch under mild heating. The system showed excellent stability for more than one month, and exhibited superior catalytic activity as evidenced by the hydrogenation of 4-nitro phenol.