Advance in graphene quantum dots benefits optoelectronics

Vikas Berry, William H Honstead professor of chemical engineering, is said to have developed a process that uses a diamond knife to cleave graphite into graphite nanoblocks, which are precursors for graphene quantum dots. These nanoblocks are then exfoliated to produce ultra-small sheets of carbon atoms of controlled shape and size.

By controlling the size and shape, the researchers can control graphene’s properties over a wide range for varied applications, such as solar cells, electronics, optical dyes, biomarkers, composites and particulate systems. Their work has been published in Nature Communications.

‘The process produces large quantities of graphene quantum dots of controlled shape and size and we have conducted studies on their structural and electrical properties,’ Berry said in a statement.

While other researchers have been able to make quantum dots, Berry’s research team is claimed to make quantum dots with a controlled structure in large quantities, which may allow these optically active quantum dots to be used in solar cell and other optoelectronic applications.