ENVIRONMENTALLY SYNTHESISED YELLOW FLUORESCENT CARBON DOTS FOR ANTIBACTERIAL APPLICATIONS

Carbon dots (CDs) are carbon-based zero-dimensional and show potential in antimicrobial infections. In this study, CDs were synthesized from p-aminophenol and ethylenediamine using the hydrothermal process at 180°C for 12 h. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum exhibits a peak at 240 nm, indicating the π-π* shift of sp2 carbon, with an energy gap of 3.3 eV. Yellow fluorescence was observed in the CDs, with dual emission at 509 nm and 544 nm. The PL QY of CDs was about 44%. CDs appear spherical in HR-TEM images, with an average size of 4.2 nm, and are aggregated due to high surface energy. FTIR spectra show an adsorption peak at 1479.34 cm-1, indicating C=C stretching. XRD shows the broad peaks around 25.5° linked to (002) lattice planes of amorphous carbon. CDs have been shown to kill any bacteria, with the maximum zone of inhibition at 10 wt% CDs.