ie9b05056_si_001.pdf (1.24 MB)
Carbon Dots as Cosensitizers in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Fluorescence Chemosensors for 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol Detection
journal contribution
posted on 2019-12-13, 16:42 authored by Anindita Bora, Kiranjyoti Mohan, Swapan Kumar DoluiCarbon
dots (CDs) are a unique class of fluorescent nanomaterials, whose
emissions can be tuned by manipulating the reaction conditions of
their formation. Herein, we report a facile solvothermal route for
producing CDs with tunable properties by employing N,N-dimethylformamide as the solvent medium. Using
completely green carbon sources, two types of CDs are synthesized:
citric acid produces green emitting CDs (G-CDs) while gallic acid
produces blue emitting CDs (B-CDs). The optical analysis of the G-CDs
suggests their application as cosensitizers along with the N719 dye
in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Following this, the effect
of G-CDs in DSSCs was studied and a photoconversion efficiency of
6.9% was extracted from the device. Meanwhile, the B-CDs produced
from gallic acid are hydrophobic in nature and their blue-colored
emission is quenched in the vicinity of 2,4,6-trinitriphenol in less
than 1 min with a limit of detection of 0.75 μM.