Synthesis of Lanthanide-Functionalized Carbon Quantum Dots for Chemical Sensing and Photocatalytic Application

Tunable photoluminescent-functionalized carbon quantum dots CQDs@Ln (TFA)3 (Ln = Eu, Tb; TFA: trifluoroacetylacetone) were designed and synthesized by introducing lanthanide complexes into the modified CQDs surface through the carboxyl group. The as-prepared CQDs@Ln (TFA)3 emit strong blue–green light with the peak at 435 nm and simultaneously show the characteristic emission of Ln3+ under irradiation of 365 nm light in aqueous solution. Moreover, these functionalized CQDs exhibit excellent photoluminescence properties. In addition, a white luminescent solution CQDs@Eu/Tb (TFA)3 was obtained by adjusting the ratio of Eu3+/Tb3+ and the excitation wavelengths. Moreover, CQDs@Tb (TFA)3 can be utilized as a fluorescent probe for the sensitive and selective detection of MnO4− without interference from other ions in aqueous solution. These results provide the meaningful data for the multicomponent assembly and the photoluminescent-functionalized materials based on the modified CQDs and lanthanide, which can be expected to have potential application in photocatalytic or sensors.