Issue 9, 2018

Phosphorus induced crystallinity in carbon dots for solar light assisted seawater desalination

Abstract

A highly ordered crystalline structure in carbon dots (Cdots) can substantially enhance the gamut of their applications in conversion, transfer and transport of energy; however, achievement of such crystallinity in a controlled manner has been elusive. We report here a facile method for the synthesis of highly crystalline doped Cdots of an average size of 2.8 ± 0.8 nm, that contain nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus heteroatoms (N,S,P-Cdots). The extent of crystallinity was dependent on the phosphorus content in the doped Cdots. We attempt to understand the nature of phosphorus doping into carbon nanostructures (N,S,P-Cdots) via spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Based on computational refinement of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern via the LeBail method we propose an orthorhombic crystal structure for N,S,P-Cdots. Importantly, the crystallinity in N,S,P-Cdots significantly enhanced the bulk solar photothermal evaporation efficiency to 83.6%. This phenomenon was further applied towards successful and efficient solar-based seawater desalination.

Graphical abstract: Phosphorus induced crystallinity in carbon dots for solar light assisted seawater desalination

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Nov 2017
Accepted
27 Jan 2018
First published
29 Jan 2018

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018,6, 4111-4118

Phosphorus induced crystallinity in carbon dots for solar light assisted seawater desalination

A. Pal, G. Natu, K. Ahmad and A. Chattopadhyay, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018, 6, 4111 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA10224K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements