January 25, 2022
Keio University
A research group from the Graduate School of Science and Technology at Keio University, consisting of Shuichiro Hayashi (a second-year doctoral student), Kaneto Tsunemitsu (a second-year master's student), and Associate Professor Mitsuhiro Terakawa, has discovered that fluorescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can be generated by focusing and irradiating a transparent polymer material with laser pulses.
Quantum dots are nano-sized particles that exhibit fluorescence due to the quantum confinement effect, and they are expected to be used in various applications, such as light-emitting diodes, biomarkers, and anti-counterfeiting tags. Among them, GQDs have recently attracted attention as environmentally friendly particles compatible with a sustainable society. This study has revealed that GQDs can be generated in a drawing-like manner along the trajectory of a laser beam by scanning a polymer material with a focused ultrashort pulse laser. This method is based on multiphoton interaction, which allows for the three-dimensional patterning of fluorescent GQDs not only on the material's surface but also inside the material. Future applications in optical devices and flexible electronic devices are anticipated.
The results of this research were published in "Nano Letters" on December 28, 2021 (local time).
For the full press release, please see below.