Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of Carbon Dots from Moringa Oleifera Leaves

Abstract:

The nature of the precursor material used in the synthesis of carbon dots can easily affect their properties. Biomass-derived carbon sources are encouraged because they are ecologically sustainable and provide numerous benefits compared to alternative carbon sources. This work presents the synthesis of carbon dots derived from Moringa oleifera leaves using a hydrothermal synthesis technique. The optical, morphological and structural properties of the obtained carbon dots were characterized using UV-vis absorption spectrophotometer, photoluminscence (PL), transition electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, respectively. The TEM revealed nearly spherical-shaped dot particles with an average size of 11.24 nm in diameter. The optical properties showed that the obtained carbon dots have green fluorescence, and the fluorescence spectra were found to red-shift as the excitation wavelength increased.

• Periodical: Journal of Nano Research (Volume 89)
• Pages: 39-43
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-3CCg2L
• Online since: October 2025
• Authors: F.S. Abd El-Kawy*, Sherif Hammad, Hassan Talaat, Mohsen Ghali
• Keywords: Carbon Dots, Hydrothermal Synthesis, Moringa Oleifera

References

[1] M. Kurian and A. Paul, "Recent trends in the use of green sources for carbon dot synthesis–A short review," Carbon Trends, vol. 3, (2021), 100032.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cartre.2021.100032

[2] H. S. AlSalem, M. S. Binkadem, S. T. Al-Goul, and M. A. Abdel-Lateef, "Synthesis of green emitted carbon dots from Vachellia nilotica and utilizing its extract as a red emitted fluorescence reagent: Applying for visual and spectroscopic detection of iron (III)," Spectrochim. Acta Part A Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc., vol. 295, (2023), 122616.

DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.122616

[3] C. Xiong, J. Xu, Q. Han, C. Qin, L. Dai, and Y. Ni, "Construction of flexible cellulose nanofiber fiber@graphene quantum dots hybrid film applied in supercapacitor and sensor," Cellulose, vol. 28, (2021), 10359-10372.

DOI: 10.1007/s10570-021-04178-x

[4] Q. S. Kahdim, N. Abdelmoula, H. Al-Karagoly, S. Albukhaty, and J. Al-Saaidi, "Fabrication of a Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Nanofibrous Scaffold Loaded with Nigella sativa Extract for Biomedical Applications," BioTech, vol. 12, (2023), 1-14.

DOI: 10.3390/biotech12010019

[5] A. Singh et al., "Ultra-bright green carbon dots with excitation-independent fluorescence for bioimaging," J. Nanostructure Chem., vol. 13, (2023), 377-387.

DOI: 10.1007/s40097-022-00501-5

[6] J. Wu et al., "Carbon dot composites for bioapplications: A review," J. Mater. Chem. B, vol. 10, (2022), 843-869.

[7] W. Meng, X. Bai, B. Wang, Z. Liu, S. Lu, and B. Yang, "Biomass-Derived Carbon Dots and Their Applications," Energy Environ. Mater., vol. 2, (2019), 172-192.

DOI: 10.1002/eem2.12038

[8] S. Sultana, "Nutritional and functional properties of Moringa oleifera," Metab. Open, vol. 8, (2020), 100067.

[9] B. Moyo, P. J. Masika, A. Hugo, and V. Muchenje, "Nutritional characterization of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves," African J. Biotechnol., vol. 10, (2011), 12925-12933.

DOI: 10.5897/ajb10.1599

[10] Z. Wang et al., "The green synthesis of carbon quantum dots and applications for sulcotrione detection and anti-pathogen activities," J. Saudi Chem. Soc., vol. 25, (2021), 101373.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jscs.2021.101373

[11] M. Muthukumaran, G. Dhinagaran, V. Narayanan, T. Raju, and K. Venkatachalam, "A green synthesis, characterization of highly luminescent carbon dots from Moringa oleifera gum application as an efficient potentiometric sensor for Hg2+ toxic metal ions," J. Indian Chem. Soc., vol. 96, (2019), 78-80.

DOI: 10.29055/jccs/604

[12] L. Zhao, Y. Wang, X. Zhao, Y. Deng, and Y. Xia, "Facile synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots with chitosan for fluorescent detection of Fe3+," Polymers (Basel)., vol. 11, (2019), 1-12.

DOI: 10.3390/polym11111731

[13] A. F. Shaikh, M. S. Tamboli, R. H. Patil, A. Bhan, J. D. Ambekar, and B. B. Kale, "Bioinspired Carbon Quantum Dots: An Antibiofilm Agents," J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol., vol. 19, (2018), 2339-2345.

DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2019.16537

[14] M. Saikia, T. Das, B. K. Saikia, "A Novel Rapid Synthesis of Highly Stable Silver Nanoparticle/Carbon Quantum Dot Nanocomposites Derived from Low-Grade Coal Feedstock." New Journal of Chemistry, vol. 46, (2022), 309–321.

DOI: 10.1039/d1nj04039a

[15] P. Anagbonu, A. Allam, and M. Ghali, "Low Temperature Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Dots from Pomegranate Low Temperature Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Dots from Pomegranate Peels," in Key Engineering Materials, vol. 931, (2022), 25-31.

DOI: 10.4028/p-14439u

[16] P. Anagbonu, M. Ghali, and A. Allam, "Low ‑ temperature green synthesis of few ‑ layered graphene sheets from pomegranate peels for supercapacitor applications," Sci. Rep., (2023), 1-12.

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42029-w