Unlocking the potential of green-engineered carbon quantum dots for sustainable packaging biomedical applications and water purification

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with well-defined architectures offer highly fascinating properties such as excellent water-solubility, exceptional luminescence, large specific surface area, non-toxicity, biocompatibility and tuneable morphological, structural, and chemical features. This review comprehensively overviews recent breakthroughs and critical milestones in the green synthesis of CQDs from renewable sources and provides guidance for their sustainable development towards fulfilling the goals of green chemistry. It also discusses the interaction of CQDs with various biopolymers to improve the material performance and functionality. This paper also highlights the latest technological applications of CQDs in…