One-step ultrasonic synthesis of fluorescent N-doped carbon dots from glucose and their visible-light sensitive photocatalytic ability

Water-soluble fluorescent N-doped carbon dots (NCDs) were synthesized by a facile one-pot ultrasonic reaction between glucose and ammonium hydroxide. Besides exhibiting strong luminescence in the visible-to-near infrared range, the obtained NCDs displayed clear upconversion photoluminescence properties. Moreover, the NCDs showed excellent photocatalytic property in the photodegradation of methyl orange under visible light.