Experimental characterization and computational modeling of N-doped Carbon Dots for future optoelectronic applications

The rising demand for more environmental-friendly and cost-effective fluorophores in optoelectronics and photonics pushed the research on alternatives free of semiconductor elements or rare-earth-based materials. A promising green and low-cost alternative is currently represented by carbon-based nanoparticles known as Carbon Dots that generally display low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility. Their most important feature is their efficient fluorescence in the visible region that in most cases varies with the excitation wavelength. This phenomenon is quite unusual and can be explained by assuming to have multiple emitting centers. This thesis work aims to provide a detailed experimental characterization and computational framework of this new material, with a focus on its optical properties and in particular on the role of nitrogen for future optoelectronic applications. ​