Room-temperature synthesis of carbon polymer dots from biomass for advanced sensing and fluorescent applications

This study presents a novel method for producing polymer dots (PDs) and carbon polymer dots (CPDs) from biomass waste through an environmentally friendly process. This process involves room-temperature oxidation/ polymerization and Schiff base reactions, which do not require external energy, making it both energy-efficient and eco-friendly. The CPDs developed in this study show outstanding Fe3+ detection capabilities, with a wide linear range (0-10 mu M) and a low detection limit of 0.34 mu M. Recovery rates in real sample tests range from 97 % to 103.2 %, with relative standard deviations between 0.63 % and 2.14 %. These findings highlight the method's sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and accuracy. Moreover, the CPDs exhibit reversible fluorescence when activated by ascorbic acid (AA), paving the way for their use in creating fluorescent inks and films with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This suggests significant potential for applications in visual sensing and detection.