Enhancing blue phosphorescence in matrix-free carbon dots through covalent crosslinking

Room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) of carbon dots (CDs) has received extensive attention due to its excellent performance and promising application. Here, a novel kind of matrix-free CDs with blue phosphorescence emission was synthesized by a simple one-step hydrothermal method of heating (3-Aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and phosphoric acid in aqueous solution. The obtained CDs show a phosphorescence lifetime of 315.73 ms, and the absolute photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and the phosphorescence quantum yield (PQY) can reach up to 37.8 % and 12.4 %, respectively. From the experimental results, we speculate that the generation of RTP is attributed to the restriction effect of the covalent crosslinking structure of Si-O-Si, Si-O-C, or Si-C bonds formed on the CDs surface. In addition, phosphoric acid as a crosslinking agent and heteroatom dopant can promote the formation of cross-linked structures and facilitate the intersystem crossing (ISC) process, thus enhancing room temperature phosphorescence. Finally, the CDs were successfully used in information encryption and anti-counterfeiting.