Flame-formed carbon nanoparticles exhibit quantum dot behaviors.

ABSTRACT: We examine the quantum confinement in the photoemission ionization energy in air and optical band gap of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs). Premixed, stretched-stabilized ethylene flames are used to generate the CNPs reproducibly over the range of 4-23 nm in volume median diameter. The results reveal that flame-formed CNPs behave like an indirect band gap material, and that the existence of the optical band gap is attributed to the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap in the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons comprising the CNPs. Both the ionization energy and optical band gap are found to follow closely the quantum confinement effect. The optical band gaps, measured both in situ and ex situ on the CNPs prepared in several additional flames, are

SUBMITTER: Liu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6601003 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature