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Advances and prospects of carbon polymer dots synthesis for chemical, biological, and therapeutic applications: A comprehensive review
Journal
Materials Research Bulletin
ISSN
0025-5408
Date Issued
2026-03
Author(s)
Jennifer Mariam Thomas
Balamuralikrishnan Balasubramanian
Gowri Suresh
Arun Meyyazhagan
Haripriya Kuchi Bhotla
Manikantan Pappuswamy
Tayebeh Khademi
Yamuna Nair
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs) are a widely studied class of carbon-based nanomaterials, yet their polymeric counterpart, carbon polymer dots (CPDs), remains comparatively underexplored.
CPDs are distinguished by their hybrid structure, comprising a carbon core surrounded by polymer frameworks, typically formed through partial carbonization of polymer precursors or small organic molecules. This structure preserves both polymeric and carbon dot properties, conferring superior optical features and enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) relative to fully carbonized CDs or uncarbonized polymer dots. CPDs are typically synthesized through bottom-up approaches, including thermal, hydrothermal, and microwave-assisted carbonization.
Their structural and functional characteristics vary considerably depending on the specific synthesis conditions. Their capacity to absorb across the UV–visible–NIR spectrum enables advanced photo-responsive interactions, enhancing their potential in biomedical and biochemical systems.
This review highlights CPDs’ synthesis strategies, structural mechanisms, and unique photophysical properties, while also addressing their prospective applications in biosensing, bioimaging, antibacterial platforms, and multifunctional therapeutic technologies.
CPDs are distinguished by their hybrid structure, comprising a carbon core surrounded by polymer frameworks, typically formed through partial carbonization of polymer precursors or small organic molecules. This structure preserves both polymeric and carbon dot properties, conferring superior optical features and enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) relative to fully carbonized CDs or uncarbonized polymer dots. CPDs are typically synthesized through bottom-up approaches, including thermal, hydrothermal, and microwave-assisted carbonization.
Their structural and functional characteristics vary considerably depending on the specific synthesis conditions. Their capacity to absorb across the UV–visible–NIR spectrum enables advanced photo-responsive interactions, enhancing their potential in biomedical and biochemical systems.
This review highlights CPDs’ synthesis strategies, structural mechanisms, and unique photophysical properties, while also addressing their prospective applications in biosensing, bioimaging, antibacterial platforms, and multifunctional therapeutic technologies.