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.