Light-Driven C-H Activation and Carbon Dots Synthesis Mediated by 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

Low-dimensional luminescent materials have emerged as crucial components for next-generation optoelectronic applications. In this work, we present a novel approach to synthesizing and patterning luminescent carbon dots (CDs) based on light-driven C-H activation mediated by 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). We successfully transform long-chain organic molecules, such as polyethylene, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, and polymers, into luminescent CDs on monolayer TMDCs (e.g., WSe₂, WS₂, and MoS₂) under low-power continuous-wave laser irradiation. The synthesized CDs exhibit broadband photoluminescence with excitation-dependent emission characteristics. Through comprehensive material characterizations and density functional theory calculations, we elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this light-driven process, revealing the crucial role of TMDCs in facilitating C-H activation and lowering the energy barrier of C-C coupling for CDs synthesis.<br/>Our technique enables the solid-state patterning of CDs with high spatial control, opening up possibilities for applications in data encryption and information technology. In addition to advancing the fundamental understanding of light-matter interactions in 2D materials, this work also provides a new strategy for creating functional luminescent nanostructures that could lead to innovations in display technologies and solid-state emitting devices.<br/><br/>Reference: Jingang Li et al., Light-driven C–H activation mediated by 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, Nature Communications, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49783-z