Effect of nitrogen precursor on optical properties of hexagonal Boron Nitride quantum dots

Abstract

Boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs) are of high interest with their excellent photophsiycal and structural characteristics. BNQDs can be synthesized through hydrothermal synthesis methods with different nitrogen precursors, however, until now the optical properties of BNQDS synthesized with different nitrogen precursors have not been compared in details yet. In this study, BNQDS were synthesized through hydrothermal synthesis methods by using urea, melamine and thiourea as nitrogen precursors and optical properties of BNQDS were compared by comparing emission and excitation characteristics of each BNQD synthesized by different nitrogen precursor. Structural properties of BNQDs were compared through infrared spectrum of each BNQDs. Our results revealed that the change in nitrogen precursor causes significant differences in photophysical and structural properties of BNQDs.

Keywords

• Quantum dots
• boron nitride
• fluorescence

References

1. Wang X, Sun G, Li N, Chen P. Quantum dots derived from two-dimensional materials and their applications for catalysis and energy. Vol. 45, Chemical Society Reviews. 2016.
2. Xu Y, Wang X, Zhang WL, Lv F, Guo S. Recent progress in two-dimensional inorganic quantum dots. Vol. 47, Chemical Society Reviews. 2018. p. 586–625.
3. Xu Q, Cai W, Li W, Sreeprasad TS, He Z, Ong WJ, et al. Two-dimensional quantum dots: Fundamentals, photoluminescence mechanism and their energy and environmental applications. Vol. 10, Materials Today Energy. 2018.
4. Manikandan A, Chen YZ, Shen CC, Sher CW, Kuo HC, Chueh YL. A critical review on two-dimensional quantum dots (2D QDs): From synthesis toward applications in energy and optoelectronics. Vol. 68, Progress in Quantum Electronics. 2019.
5. Budak E, Ünlü C. Boron regulated dual emission in B, N doped graphene quantum dots. Opt Mater (Amst). 2021;111.
6. Budak E, Aykut S, Paşaoğlu ME, Ünlü C. Microwave assisted synthesis of boron and nitrogen rich graphitic quantum dots to enhance fluorescence of photosynthetic pigments. Mater Today Commun. 2020;24.
7. Budak E, Erdoğan D, Ünlü C. Enhanced fluorescence of photosynthetic pigments through conjugation with carbon quantum dots. Photosynth Res. 2021;147(1).
8. Lin L, Xu Y, Zhang S, Ross IM, Ong ACM, Allwood DA. Fabrication and luminescence of monolayered boron nitride quantum dots. Small. 2014;10(1):60–5.

9. Pan C, Long M, He J. Enhanced thermoelectric properties in boron nitride quantum-dot. Results Phys. 2017;7:1487–91.
10. Fan L, Zhou Y, He M, Tong Y, Zhong X, Fang J, et al. Facile microwave approach to controllable boron nitride quantum dots. J Mater Sci. 2017;52(23):13522–32.
11. Matsoso BJ, Ranganathan K, Mutuma BK, Lerotholi T, Jones G, Coville NJ. Single-step synthesis of crystalline h-BN quantum- and nanodots embedded in boron carbon nitride films. Nanotechnology. 2017;28(10).
12. Thangasamy P, Santhanam M, Sathish M. Supercritical Fluid Facilitated Disintegration of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheets to Quantum Dots and Its Application in Cells Imaging. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016;8(29):18647–51.
13. Bandyopadhyay A, Sharma SRKCY, Pati SK. Tuning the electronic and optical properties of graphene and boron-nitride quantum dots by molecular charge-transfer interactions: A theoretical study. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2013;15(33):13881–7.
14. Li H, Tay RY, Tsang SH, Zhen X, Teo EHT. Controllable Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Boron Nitride Quantum Dots. Small. 2015;11(48):6491–9.
15. Yang Y, Zhang C, Huang D, Zeng G, Huang J, Lai C, et al. Boron nitride quantum dots decorated ultrathin porous g-C 3 N 4 : Intensified exciton dissociation and charge transfer for promoting visible-light-driven molecular oxygen activation. Appl Catal B Environ. 2019;87–99.
16. Liu M, Xu Y, Wang Y, Chen X, Ji X, Niu F, et al. Boron Nitride Quantum Dots with Solvent-Regulated Blue/Green Photoluminescence and Electrochemiluminescent Behavior for Versatile Applications. Adv Opt Mater. 2017;5(3).
17. Liu B, Yan S, Song Z, Liu M, Ji X, Yang W, et al. One-Step Synthesis of Boron Nitride Quantum Dots: Simple Chemistry Meets Delicate Nanotechnology. Chem - A Eur J. 2016;22(52):18899–907.
18. Yao Q, Feng Y, Rong M, He S, Chen X. Determination of nickel(II) via quenching of the fluorescence of boron nitride quantum dots. Microchim Acta. 2017;184(10):4217–23.
19. Huo B, Liu B, Chen T, Cui L, Xu G, Liu M, et al. One-step synthesis of fluorescent boron nitride quantum dots via a hydrothermal strategy using melamine as nitrogen source for the detection of ferric ions. Langmuir. 2017;33(40):10673–8.
20. Stampfl J, Tasch S, Leising G, Scherf U. Quantum efficiencies of electroluminescent poly(para-phenylenes). Synth Met. 1995;71(1–3):2125–8.
21. Fletcher AN, Bliss DE. Laser dye stability. Part 5 - Effect of chemical substituents of bicyclic dyes upon photodegradation parameters. Appl Phys. 1978;16(3):289–95.