Photoluminescence properties of silk-carbon quantum dots composites

In this paper, we report silk fibroin (SF) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) nanocomposites obtained through a facile solution casting approach. The optical properties of the nanocomposites have been characterised by UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Crosslinking of SF and chemical interactions with the CQDs have been investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. In addition, water stability and degradability of the prepared composites have been investigated in terms of mass loss, important for applications in a real scenario. We observed that for a concentration of CQDs above 1%wt aggregation of nanoparticles occurs, affecting the photoluminescence of the material. The results show that the best composition in terms of photoluminescence intensity and water stability is 0.5%wt CQDs. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

In this study, silk fibroin and carbon quantum dots nanocomposites were prepared through a facile solution casting approach. The optical properties and chemical interactions were characterized, and it was found that 0.5%wt of carbon quantum dots showed the highest photoluminescence intensity and water stability.