Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Carbon Dots
Mains level : Applications of Carbon Dots
In an extraordinary waste-to-wealth feat, researchers from Assam have used the commonly found invasive plant water hyacinth to produce carbon nanoparticles.
Carbon Dots
- The researchers harvested water hyacinth leaves, removed the chlorophyll, dried and powdered it.
- The sieved powder underwent several treatments including heating at 150 degree Celsius to convert it to carbon dots.
- When a nanoparticle is less than 10 nanometres call it a dot or nanodot.
Features of these dots
- These carbon dots were able to give a green fluorescence under UV light.
- These extremely tiny (less than 10 nanometres) particles can be used for detecting a commonly used herbicide — pretilachlor.
- The nanoparticles were found to be selective and sensitive for the detection of the herbicide.
- Some teams are exploring if its fibre can be used to make furniture.