ABSTRACT

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of carbon dots derived from neem leaves, a sustainable biomass source using a solvothermal carbonization approach. The optical properties of the carbon dots were investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy which revealed distinct absorption peaks at 260nm and 360nm. Further analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified characteristic functional groups including amine, alkene, carbonyl and alkyl chains corresponding to peaks at 3443.83cm^-1, 1648.65cm^-1, 1384.55cm^-1 and 1071.33cm^-1 respectively. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a crystallite size of 1.58nm, indicating a high degree of crystallinity and the XRD diffractogram demonstrated a diffraction peak at 2θ = 25°, which was ascribed to the graphitic carbon (002) diffraction pattern. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed a spongy morphology with dense pore structures, suggesting potential applications in bioimaging, sensing and biomedical fields.

Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of a neem leaf- derived carbon dots for a range of various applications, and further research is needed to fully explore their properties and potentials.