Carbon nanodots are currently one of the hot topics in the nanomaterials world, due to their accessible synthesis and promising features. However, the purification of these materials is still a critical aspect, especially for syntheses involving molecular precursors. Indeed, the presence of unreacted species or small organic molecules formed during solvothermal treatments can affect the properties of the synthesized nanomaterials. To illustrate the extreme importance of this issue, we present two case studies in which insufficient purification results in misleading conclusions regarding the chiral and fluorescent properties of the investigated materials. Key to identify molecular species is the use of nuclear magnetic resonance, which proves to be an effective tool. Our work highlights the need to include nuclear magnetic resonance as a standard characterization technique for carbon-based nanomaterials, to minimize the risk of observing properties that arise from molecular species, rather than the target carbon nanodots.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Reveals Molecular Species in Carbon Nanodot Samples Disclosing Flaws

Bartolomei, Beatrice;Bogo, Andrea;Amato, Francesco;Ragazzon, Giulio;Prato, Maurizio
2022-01-01

Abstract

Carbon nanodots are currently one of the hot topics in the nanomaterials world, due to their accessible synthesis and promising features. However, the purification of these materials is still a critical aspect, especially for syntheses involving molecular precursors. Indeed, the presence of unreacted species or small organic molecules formed during solvothermal treatments can affect the properties of the synthesized nanomaterials. To illustrate the extreme importance of this issue, we present two case studies in which insufficient purification results in misleading conclusions regarding the chiral and fluorescent properties of the investigated materials. Key to identify molecular species is the use of nuclear magnetic resonance, which proves to be an effective tool. Our work highlights the need to include nuclear magnetic resonance as a standard characterization technique for carbon-based nanomaterials, to minimize the risk of observing properties that arise from molecular species, rather than the target carbon nanodots.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Angew Chem Int Ed - 2022 - Bartolomei - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Reveals Molecular Species in Carbon Nanodot Samples.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Articolo scientifico
Tipologia: Documento in Versione Editoriale
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 1.06 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.06 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11368/3025193
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 10
  • Scopus 64
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 60
social impact