Continuous microflow synthesis of fluorescent phosphorus and nitrogen co-doped carbon quantum dots

Fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) doped with heteroatoms are highly promising for diverse applications ranging from bioimaging to environmental sensing. However, the ability doping and functionalizing CQDs in a continuous, scalable, industry-relevant flow chemistry process, remains limited. Here we overcome this limitation by developing facile efficient method preparation of nitrogen phosphorus co-doped (NP-CQDs), using microflow reactors combined localized, energy-efficient heating ethanolamine phosphoric acid aqueous solution. The products characterized advanced microanalysis including fluorescence spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffraction (XRD) measurements. results show ultrasmall fluorescent narrow size distribution were successfully prepared, where N P atoms proved be effectively into CQDs. reaction conditions continuous synthesis investigated, influence residence time temperature on obtained (particle size, distributions, intensity, bandgap energies, conductivity, lifetime) analyzed. This study is expected provide guidance controllable effective heteroatoms.