Luminescence of carbon dos derived from dansyl chloride: thermal effects and reactive oxygen generation.
1. Carbon dots. 2. Fluorescence. 3. Temperature
Carbon dots constitute a new class of carbon-based nanomaterials that have been the
subject of an increasing number of researches since its discovery in 2004. Presented as an
alternative to the use of metallic and inorganic nanostructures, its uorescent properties,
biocompatibility and low production cost allow its use in several areas. In the present
study, a hydrothermal synthetic method was used to produce carbon dots derived from
5 - (dimethylamino) naphthalene- 1 -sulfonyl (Dansil Chloride) co-doped with Nitrogen
and Sulfur. Through morphological characterization, it was possible to identify the core
crystalline structure and the functional groups attached to the surface of the nanoparticle. Spectroscopy revealed an excitation-dependent uorescence for wavelengths greater
than 400 nm. Thermal analyzes determined the temperature-dependent behavior of the
emission spectrum through an increase in intensity proportional to the increase in the
sample temperature, which was associated with the phenomenon of reverse intersystem
crossing, promoting a thermally activated delayed uorescence. The absolute thermal
sensitivity was determined as 1:04oC-1 and the absolute sensitivity exhibited an increase from 0:45oC-1 to 0:55oC-1 in the temperature range 20oC - 60oC. The possibility
of applying this structure as a raciometric thermal sensor was investigated through the
continuous thermal variation in heating and cooling cycles. Additionally, the quantum
yield of singlet oxygen generation by carbon dots was studied in order to propose its use
in techniques such as Photodynamic therapy