Carbon Dots Loaded onto Nanosilica Particles: To Enhance Leaf Surface Adhesion and Plant Photosynthetic Efficiency

Nanofertilizers are easily dislodged from leaves when sprayed, which will reduce their impact. In this study, carbon dots (CDs) were successfully incorporated onto silica nanoparticle substrates, enhancing the hydrophilicity and adhesion to plant leaf surfaces. The behavior of nanoparticles loaded with hydrophilic groups easily achieved a high retention of CDs on plant leaves, which reduced the contact angle, increased the hydrophilicity, and improved the bioavailability of CDs. Experimental results demonstrated that applying CDs@SiO₂ to lettuce leaves at a concentration of 100 mg·L^-1 significantly improved the dry and fresh weights, photosynthetic pigment content, and overall quality of lettuce. Furthermore, this study investigated the impact of natural factors on the adhesion of CDs@SiO₂ through simulated rainfall experiments and discovered that CDs loaded onto nanosilica substrates exhibited greater resistance to washout by rainfall. This research provides insights into enhancing the bioavailability of carbon-based nanofertilizers, which is expected to increase the plant yield and the photosynthetic efficiency, making contributions to the advancement of sustainable agricultural development.