Green synthesis of fluorescent N,S-carbon dots from bamboo leaf and the interaction with nitrophenol compounds.

A simple and green approach for the synthesis of photoluminescent N,S-carbon dots (N,S-CDs) has been proposed using a single natural source precursor (bamboo leaf) as raw materials. The as-synthesized N,S-CDs exhibited a highly stable, excitation wavelength-dependent emission, excellent photobleaching, alkali, and salt tolerance. Here, the mechanism of N,S-CDs luminescence was studied via the UV–vis absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Based on the quenching properties of nitrophenol compounds on the fluorescence of N,S-CDs, the interaction between N,S-CDs and nitrophenol compounds was investigated on detail in aqueous solution. More importantly, the study on photophysical properties of the N,S-CDs may provide the basis for the development of the N,S-CDs for the fluorescent probe of nitrophenol compounds.