Publication detail

Exploring the Emission Pathways in Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots for Bioimaging

GOMEZ PEREZ, I. SULLEIRO, M. DOLEČKOVÁ, A. PIZÚROVÁ, N. MEDALOVÁ, J. ROY, R. NEČAS, D. ZAJÍČKOVÁ, L.

Original Title

Exploring the Emission Pathways in Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots for Bioimaging

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with tunable fluorescence emission promise excellent bioapplication potential, especially in bioimaging. We report the synthesis of nitrogen-doped GQDs (N-GQDs) from glucose and ethylenediamine, cheap and safe chemicals, using a one-step and fast microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Our N-GQDs exhibit fluorescence in the entire visible spectral region, which extends to near-ultraviolet and slightly to near-infrared. Since the origin of fluorescence and its relation to the structure and synthesis conditions are not yet fully understood, we also concentrated on the fluorescence mechanism explanation. Structural characterization with steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements indicated that band-to-band transitions, size effect, and different nitrogen and oxygen functional groups play a role in this multicolor emission. Remarkably, we found for the first time the evidence that directly relates a change in the N-GQD work function to the change in oxygen groups under UV irradiation via ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Thus, we confirmed that for lambda(ex) less than or similar to 380 nm, photooxidation processes occurred, which led to chemical modification, thereby lowering the work function in the N-GQDs. The N-GQDs were proved to be highly biocompatible by a cell viability assay using vascular smooth muscle cells. Together with the wide spectral range emission observed in confocal fluorescence imaging, it demonstrated the potential of the N-GQDs for in vitro bioimaging applications.

Keywords

CARBON NANODOTS; FACILE SYNTHESIS; OPTICAL-PROPERTIES; SURFACE-STATE; PHOTOLUMINESCENCE; REDUCTION; OXIDE; BLUE; LUMINESCENCE; MECHANISM

Authors

GOMEZ PEREZ, I.; SULLEIRO, M.; DOLEČKOVÁ, A.; PIZÚROVÁ, N.; MEDALOVÁ, J.; ROY, R.; NEČAS, D.; ZAJÍČKOVÁ, L.

Released

30. 9. 2021

Publisher

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Location

WASHINGTON

ISBN

1932-7455

Periodical

Journal of Physical Chemistry C (web)

Year of study

125

Number

38

State

United States of America

Pages from

21044

Pages to

21054

Pages count

11

URL

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c06029

BibTex

@article{BUT175546,
  author="Inmaculada Jennifer {Gomez Perez} and Manuel Vázquez {Sulleiro} and Anna {Dolečková} and Naděžda {Pizúrová} and Jiřina {Medalová} and Rajarshi {Roy} and David {Nečas} and Lenka {Zajíčková}",
  title="Exploring the Emission Pathways in Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots for Bioimaging",
  journal="Journal of Physical Chemistry C (web)",
  year="2021",
  volume="125",
  number="38",
  pages="21044--21054",
  doi="10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c06029",
  issn="1932-7455",
  url="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c06029"
}