Microwave-Assisted Carbonization Processing for Carbon Dot-like Nanomaterials with Antimicrobial Properties

Carbon dots (CDots) are classically defined as small carbon nanoparticles with effective surface passivation, which, in the classical synthesis, has been accomplished by surface organic functionalization. CDot-like nanostructures could also be produced by the thermal carbonization processing of sele...

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Main Authors: Buta Singh, Audrey F. Adcock, Simran Dumra, Jordan Collins, Liju Yang, Christopher E. Bunker, Haijun Qian, Mohammed J. Meziani, Ya-Ping Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Micro
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/5/1/14
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author Buta Singh
Audrey F. Adcock
Simran Dumra
Jordan Collins
Liju Yang
Christopher E. Bunker
Haijun Qian
Mohammed J. Meziani
Ya-Ping Sun
author_facet Buta Singh
Audrey F. Adcock
Simran Dumra
Jordan Collins
Liju Yang
Christopher E. Bunker
Haijun Qian
Mohammed J. Meziani
Ya-Ping Sun
author_sort Buta Singh
collection DOAJ
description Carbon dots (CDots) are classically defined as small carbon nanoparticles with effective surface passivation, which, in the classical synthesis, has been accomplished by surface organic functionalization. CDot-like nanostructures could also be produced by the thermal carbonization processing of selected organic precursors, in which the non-molecular nanocarbons resulting from the carbonization are embedded in the remaining organic species, which may provide the passivation function for the nanocarbons. In this work, a mixture of oligomeric polyethylenimine and citric acid in the solid state was used for efficient thermal carbonization processing with microwave irradiation under various conditions to produce dot samples with different nanocarbon content. The samples were characterized in terms of their structural and morphological features regarding their similarity or equivalency to those of the classical CDots, along with their significant divergences. Also evaluated were their optical spectroscopic properties and their photoinduced antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial species. The advantages and disadvantages of the thermal carbonization processing method and the resulting dot samples with various features and properties mimicking those of classically synthesized CDots are discussed.
format Article
id doaj-art-ab862985307c4c4591c919ec53ca0224
institution DOAJ
issn 2673-8023
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Micro
spelling doaj-art-ab862985307c4c4591c919ec53ca02242025-08-20T02:42:27ZengMDPI AGMicro2673-80232025-03-01511410.3390/micro5010014Microwave-Assisted Carbonization Processing for Carbon Dot-like Nanomaterials with Antimicrobial PropertiesButa Singh0Audrey F. Adcock1Simran Dumra2Jordan Collins3Liju Yang4Christopher E. Bunker5Haijun Qian6Mohammed J. Meziani7Ya-Ping Sun8Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USADepartment of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USAAir Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Combustion Branch, Turbine Engine Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH 45433, USAElectron Microscopy Facility, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Natural Sciences, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO 64468, USADepartment of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USACarbon dots (CDots) are classically defined as small carbon nanoparticles with effective surface passivation, which, in the classical synthesis, has been accomplished by surface organic functionalization. CDot-like nanostructures could also be produced by the thermal carbonization processing of selected organic precursors, in which the non-molecular nanocarbons resulting from the carbonization are embedded in the remaining organic species, which may provide the passivation function for the nanocarbons. In this work, a mixture of oligomeric polyethylenimine and citric acid in the solid state was used for efficient thermal carbonization processing with microwave irradiation under various conditions to produce dot samples with different nanocarbon content. The samples were characterized in terms of their structural and morphological features regarding their similarity or equivalency to those of the classical CDots, along with their significant divergences. Also evaluated were their optical spectroscopic properties and their photoinduced antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial species. The advantages and disadvantages of the thermal carbonization processing method and the resulting dot samples with various features and properties mimicking those of classically synthesized CDots are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/5/1/14nanocarbon/organic hybridsthermal processingnanocarbon contentoptical absorptionfluorescence emissionnanocomposite-like
spellingShingle Buta Singh
Audrey F. Adcock
Simran Dumra
Jordan Collins
Liju Yang
Christopher E. Bunker
Haijun Qian
Mohammed J. Meziani
Ya-Ping Sun
Microwave-Assisted Carbonization Processing for Carbon Dot-like Nanomaterials with Antimicrobial Properties
Micro
nanocarbon/organic hybrids
thermal processing
nanocarbon content
optical absorption
fluorescence emission
nanocomposite-like
title Microwave-Assisted Carbonization Processing for Carbon Dot-like Nanomaterials with Antimicrobial Properties
title_full Microwave-Assisted Carbonization Processing for Carbon Dot-like Nanomaterials with Antimicrobial Properties
title_fullStr Microwave-Assisted Carbonization Processing for Carbon Dot-like Nanomaterials with Antimicrobial Properties
title_full_unstemmed Microwave-Assisted Carbonization Processing for Carbon Dot-like Nanomaterials with Antimicrobial Properties
title_short Microwave-Assisted Carbonization Processing for Carbon Dot-like Nanomaterials with Antimicrobial Properties
title_sort microwave assisted carbonization processing for carbon dot like nanomaterials with antimicrobial properties
topic nanocarbon/organic hybrids
thermal processing
nanocarbon content
optical absorption
fluorescence emission
nanocomposite-like
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/5/1/14
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