Full Factorial Design Analysis of the Facile Synthesis of Organo-Conjugated Carbon Quantum Dots from Glycerol

Recent findings on the production of quantum dots from various carbon sources shed light on their advantages such as sustainability, low toxicity and cost, and one-step synthesis over their heavy-metal counterpart. This paper focused on developing and analyzing the production of carbon quantum dots from glycerol via hydrothermal carbonization and conjugated with Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). A 23 full factorial experimental design was applied considering factors: the compositional ratio of TEPA (A), time of exposure (B), and temperature of reaction (C). Statistical analyses revealed experimental factors A and B; and interactions of AB and AC had statistically significant effects on the response variable, quantum yield (QY). Factor C as the main effect was not significant but was included in the statistical model to maintain hierarchy and integrity. Coded and actual statistical models were presented here.