The first use of the combination of ammonium citrate (AC) and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as coordinating precursors for the synthesis of highly fluorescent (quantum yield = 67%) multicolour nitrogen-doped carbon dots (CDs) is reported.
Preparation of water dispersible carbon dots from inexpensive natural carbon precursors and its application for purposes such as sensing, bio-imaging, patterning agent etc. is showing growing interest in recent years....