Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots with oxygen-rich functional groups

Yan Li, Yang Zhao, Huhu Cheng, Yue Hu, Gaoquan Shi, Liming Dai, Liangti Qu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1886 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) represent a new class of quantum dots with unique properties. Doping GQDs with heteroatoms provides an attractive means of effectively tuning their intrinsic properties and exploiting new phenomena for advanced device applications. Herein we report a simple electrochemical approach to luminescent and electrocatalytically active nitrogen-doped GQDs (N-GQDs) with oxygen-rich functional groups. Unlike their N-free counterparts, the newly produced N-GQDs with a N/C atomic ratio of ca. 4.3% emit blue luminescence and possess an electrocatalytic activity comparable to that of a commercially available Pt/C catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an alkaline medium. In addition to their use as metal-free ORR catalysts in fuel cells, the superior luminescence characteristic of N-GQDs allows them to be used for biomedical imaging and other optoelectronic applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15-18
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume134
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots with oxygen-rich functional groups'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this