| Abstract Scope |
Carbon dots (C-dots) are an emerging class of carbon-based nanostructures produced from low-cost raw materials which exhibit broad absorption in the UV and visible range, tunable photoluminescence, and high quantum yield. The incorporation of C-dots into a solid matrix remains a crucial step in the development of functional nanocomposites. C-dots have been extensively studied in solution, however their use in solid-state systems remains limited, primarily due to aggregation and optical quenching phenomena that significantly impact their performance. The use of sol-gel chemistry, with careful design of the chemical precursors involved in the synthesis, is of paramount importance to incorporate luminescent C-dots at high concentrations without causing aggregation in the matrix. I will present some examples of specific design of C-dots and their integration into sol-gel hybrid systems for the development of functional applications such as solid-state lasers, light-emitting devices, and nanocomposite photoelectrodes. |