Recent development in fluorescent carbon quantum dots-based photocatalysts for water and energy applications

Photocatalysis plays a vital role in addressing environmental remediation and energy generation. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) represent a superior category of photocatalysts devoid of metals, boasting remarkable electron transfer capabilities, up-conversion photoluminescence, and non-toxic properties. Notably, CQDs can function independently as photocatalysts or become part of composite photocatalytic materials. This article explores the precursor materials used in CQD production and the various methods for preparing photocatalysts enhanced with CQDs, such as hydrothermal, solvothermal, microwave, chemical oxidation, etc. Furthermore, we provide an extensive overview of recent advancements in pristine, doped, and CQD-based photocatalysts, encompassing applications like organic pollutant degradation in water, hydrogen production, and CO2 photoreduction for fuel generation. The effect of the CQDs surface and the computational modelling was also addressed. Finally, we addressed the challenges and potential research avenues for CQD-enhanced photocatalysts.