journal article·2026-06-23Open access

Microwave-Assisted Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots With High Fluorescence Quantum Yields

Salma Aziz Neamah, Mundher Al-Shakban, Sattar M. Hassan, Zahraa Majid Hammoud

Abstract

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) luminescent carbon nanostructures are typically synthesized using complicated procedures and toxic reagents and feature insufficiently characterized structures. To address these limitations, we herein developed a simple and eco-friendly top-down microwave-assisted synthesis of CQDs from household supplies (sugar, vinegar, and baking soda). Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for CQD characterization. The average crystallite size of CQDs determined by XRD (50.627 ± 4 nm) reasonably well agreed with the average particle size determined by TEM (37 ± 5 nm), and the sample prepared under optimal conditions featured a fluorescence quantum yield of 0.247. Moreover, CQDs were shown to competitively inhibit lactate dehydrogenase.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications · Electrochemical sensors and biosensors · Electromagnetic wave absorption materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

The General Directorate of Misan Education, Ministry of Education, 62001 Misan, Iraq

Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Misan, 62001 Misan, Iraq

Department of Mathematics, College of Education, University of Misan, 62001 Misan, Iraq

Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Misan, 62001 Misan, Iraq

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