A new insight of a pH-dependent fluorescence switching mechanism and the novel radical scavenging ability of nitrogen-doped citric acid-based carbon dots

Key Points

• To investigate the pH-dependent fluorescence switching mechanism and radical scavenging abilities of nitrogen-doped carbon dots.
• Synthesis of nitrogen-doped citric acid-based carbon dots.
• Determination of apparent pKa values.
• Evaluation of fluorescence switching pKa.
• Identification of new insights into pH-dependent fluorescence switching of carbon dots.
• Measurement of specific pKa values related to fluorescence switching.