Resculpting carbon dots via electrochemical etching

Substantial efforts are directed into exploring the structure-properties relationships of photoluminescent Carbon dots (C-dots). This study unravels a resculpting mechanism in C-dots that is triggered by electrochemical etching and proceeds via extensive surface oxidation and carbon-carbon breakage. The process results in the gradual shrinkage of the nanoparticles and can enhance the quantum yield by more than half order of magnitude compared to the untreated analogues.

Automated summary

This study reveals a resculpting mechanism in photoluminescent Carbon dots (C-dots) triggered by electrochemical etching, which involves extensive surface oxidation and carbon-carbon breakage. The process leads to gradual shrinkage of the nanoparticles and can significantly enhance the quantum yield compared to untreated samples.