One-step hydrothermal synthesis of photoluminescent carbon nitride dots derived from ionic liquids

We present an economical and facile hydrothermal approach to synthesize fluorescent carbon nitride dots (CNDs) derived from ionic liquids. The results suggest that the CNDs thus obtained are highly water-soluble and exhibit a strong fluorescence. The one-step preparation process is simple and effective, neither a strong acid solvent nor surface modification reagent is needed, which makes this approach very suitable for industrial production.