Thermo-optic characterization of graphene oxide quantum dot semiconductors for the determination of quantum efficiency

Abstract

The aim of this work was to present the results of the optical and photothermal characterization of graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) obtained from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. GOQDs were elaborated from carbonization and exfoliation of electrospun PAN fibers. The main absorption peak of the GOQDs in the UV–Vis spectrum was located between 200 and 350 nm. Two emission lines were observed at 550 and at 552 nm in the photoluminescence (PL) spectra. From the GOQDs photothermal characterization, the luminescent quantum efficiency (η) and the change of the refractive index versus temperature (dn/dT) were obtained with the values of − 5.75 × 10–4 and − 6.15 × 10–4, respectively. The values of the quantum efficiency (η) were 0.997 and 0.954 for centrifuged samples at two different speeds of 8000 a 12000 rpm, respectively. The main applications of GOQDs are related to optics and diagnosis in nanomedicine having a new insight in technological applications.