Publication

Abstract : Carbon nanomaterials like carbon dots and graphene dots are 1–10 nm scaled complex nanostructures that utilize and improve the inherent characteristics of small carbon nanoparticles. Their optical absorptions and redox properties are competitive with that of conventional semiconductors such as quantum dots, fullerenes, and other carbon nanomaterials. Defects in the structure can contribute significantly toward the redox and optical properties of these nanomaterials. Fine-tuning of redox and electronic properties is possible depending on doping, structural modification on surface, binding, etc. They are nowadays used extensively in sensors, various energy conversion technologies, and for photodynamic effects due to the efficient photon harvesting across a wide spectral range and due to the charge transfer characteristics in the excited state. This chapter will try to explain in brief the redox properties of zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials.