Classical oxidant induced chemiluminescence of fluorescent carbon dots.

We report new chemiluminescent properties of fluorescent carbon dots in the presence of classical oxidants, such as acidic potassium permanganate and cerium(IV). The radiative recombination of oxidant-injected holes and electrons in the carbon dots accounts for the CL emission, which sheds new light on characteristics of the carbon dots. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012