Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles by Dispersion Polymerization of Acetylene

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) have emerged as one of the most promising nanomaterials due to their distinct optoelectronic properties for a diverse range of applications in the area of electronics, energy conversion and storage, and bio-imaging. Their functions and properties can be changed by varying their shape, size and dimensionality. The synthetic methods reported until now involve high-temperature (>100 °C) processes, which often result in uncontrolled shape, size and polydispersity. In this work, we focus on the development of a low-temperature synthetic method for the preparation of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles and modulation of properties. Our method, based on the dispersion Glaser-Hay polymerization of acetylene followed by decomposition into a carbonaceous material, yields CNPs with sizes varying from 30 nm to 60 nm. The shape and size of the resulting carbon nanoparticles are influenced by changing different reaction parameters such as temperature, reaction time and pressure. The control over the different reaction parameters allows us to obtain monodisperse CNPs in spherical shapes. After isolation, CNPs were characterized by microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The residual alkynes in the CNPs’ structure were exploited for further post-functionalization/ graphitization to yield multifunctional CNPs, which were fluorescent in the blue region.