Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Synthesis of Green Luminescent Carbon Quantum Dots (CQD), and Optical Properties of Blends of the CQD with Poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Carbon quantum dots (CQD) emitting green photoluminescence (PL; emission peak at 500 nm) with satisfactory quantum yield (12.1%) were synthesized by a low-temperature hydrothermal method (90A degrees C for 2 h) with l-ascorbic acid as carbon source and ethanediamine as catalyst. The as-prepared CQD dispersed readily in aqueous media, were of average diameter 6.2 nm, and their PL performance was excitation-independent. The photoluminescence wavelength of the CQD was pH-independent but the photoluminescence intensity was pH-dependent. Films of the composite materials poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and the CQD were prepared by spin-coating and characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectrometry. The results revealed enhanced ultraviolet-visible absorption of the P3HT-CQD film compared with pure P3HT and substantially reduced PL intensity of the blend film. Experimental and theoretical results indicate the feasibility of using the CQD as a new acceptor material in polymeric photovoltaic devices.