Sustainable Synthesis of Bright Green Fluorescence Nitrogen-doped Carbon Quantum Dots from Alkali Lignin.

Sustainable, inexpensive, and environmentally-friendly biomass waste can be exploited for large-scale production of carbon nanomaterials. Here, alkali lignin was employed as a precursor to synthesize carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with bright green fluorescence through a simple one-pot route. Prepared CQDs with a size of 1.5~3.5 nm are water-dispersible and wonderful biocompatibility, whereas they have excellent photoluminescence and electrocatalysis properties. These high-quality CQDs are supposed to be given a wide range of applications such as metal ion detection, cell imaging, and electrocatalysis. Green, low cost and a wide range of biomass lignin feedstocks provide a viable strategy for producing high-quality fluorescent CQDs and enable the conversion of biomass waste into high-value products that promote sustainable development of the economy and human society.

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