Chiral Graphene Quantum Dots and Carbon Dots: From Chirality Induction to Spin‐Selective Effects and Advanced Applications

Chiral graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and carbon dots (CDs) represent a groundbreaking fusion of carbon nanotechnology and chirality science. These nanomaterials transcend their achiral counterparts by integrating exceptional biocompatibility and tunable photoluminescence with sophisticated chiroptical properties and the chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect. This review provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the rapid evolution of this dynamic field. We first elucidate the fundamental origins of chirality-from chiral surface functionalization and intrinsic lattice distortion to supramolecular assembly-and detail the advanced spectroscopic techniques for its quantification. A systematic evaluation of synthetic methodologies, spanning one-step, two-step, and chiral composite strategies, is presented, highlighting the critical trade-offs between structural control and chiroptical strength. The discussion of core properties delves beyond conventional photoluminescence to explore the mechanisms and tunability of circularly polarized luminescence, room-temperature phosphorescence, and the transformative CISS effect. We subsequently explore how these properties enable state-of-the-art applications in enantioselective biosensing, targeted bioimaging and drug delivery, asymmetric catalysis, and next-generation spin-optoelectronics. The review concludes with a forward-looking perspective, outlining the key scientific challenges in synthesis, stability, and fundamental understanding that must be overcome to transition these promising materials from laboratory demonstrations to practical technologies.