An Alternative Route to Obtain Carbon Quantum Dots from Photoluminescent Materials in Peat

Peat, an organic compound easily found in the soil (easy to acquire), has more than 50% elemental carbon in its composition and can be used as raw material to produce carbon quantum dots (CQDs, C-dots, Carbon Dots). In this work we describe two simple and low-cost routes for the acquisition of these photoluminescent materials based on peat. The final products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), absorption (UV-Vis) and emission (PL) spectra and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The produced CQDs have an average size of 3.5 nm and exhibit coloration between blue and green. In addition, it is possible to produce photoluminescence by means of the aromatic compounds also present in the composition of the peat, in turn exhibiting an intense green coloration. The results indicate great versatility of peat for the production of photoluminescent materials.