Intense Continuous Wave Laser to Synthesize Luminescent Solution of Carbon Dots

Abstract

Biocompatible Carbon dots (CDs) were obtained by the laser irradiation of vegetable carbon placed in a Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) solution. The carbon nanoparticles were generated by a visible and continuum wave (CW) He-Ne laser beam at a 632.8 nm wavelength with 1 mm² spot, irradiating the carbon target for times of the order of some hours. The CDs generation might be due to thermal effects induced by the prolonged laser irradiation inducing carbon atoms ejection bounded by weak van de Walls forces. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) transmittance and luminescence measurements were employed to study the CDs synthesize. The UV excitation at a 365 nm wavelength induces visible CDs luminescence mainly at about 474 nm wavelength, giving the emitted light a characteristic blue color. The CDs luminescence in biocompatible solutions is presented and discussed in anticipation of possible applications in various sectors, such as radiation detector and material physics, engineering, microelectronics, sensors and, above all, in relation to bio-images from cell cultures and biological tissue as possible applications to the bio-medical field.

Keywords:

• Carbon dots
• nanoparticles
• luminescence
• Phosphate-Buffered saline solution
• optical spectroscopy
• laser absorption processes

Authors’ contribution

1. Lorenzo Torrisi, Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, MIFT, Università di Messina, V.le F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166, Messina, Italy, Email: [email protected]

   Coordinator of the research, experimental measurements, work writer.

2. Alfio Torrisi, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, 94100, Enna, Italy, Email: [email protected]

   Researcher, optical spectroscopies, biblioografic researches.

3. Mariapompea Cutroneo, Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, MIFT, Università di Messina, V.le F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166, Messina, Italy, Email: [email protected]

   Researcher, experimental measurements, optical spectroscopies, data elaboration.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)

Additional information

Funding

This work has been supported by the MIUR, PRIN-PNRR Project entitled “Carbon dots for advanced bio-medical imaging and beyond (CAR-BIO-MED)”, CUP F53D23010420001 - CI J53D23016220001, coordinated at MIFT Department of Messina University by Prof. L. Torrisi, and Akademie Věd České Republiky; Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca.