Sustainable carbon dots: insights into synthesis methods, properties, and diverse applications

Carbon dots (CDs), a novel class of nanomaterials, have gained significant attention owing to their remarkable properties, such as strong fluorescence, biocompatibility, and environmental friendliness. Since their discovery in 2004, CDs have evolved into versatile platforms with applications spanning bioimaging, sensing, photocatalysis, and energy storage. This review explores diverse synthesis methods for CDs, including top-down and bottom-up approaches, and emphasizes their cost-effectiveness, scalability, and tunability. Key characterization techniques such as TEM, FTIR, and XRD are discussed to highlight the structure-property relationship in CDs. Furthermore, the manuscript delves into the functional versatility of CDs, highlighting their role in bioimaging, chemical sensing, supercapacitors, and photocatalysis. The ability to tailor CDs for specific applications through doping and surface modification underscores their transformative potential in science and technology. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of CDs and bridge fundamental insights into real-world applications for sustainable development.