Advances in Nanoengineering seminar – October 27, 2026
We cordially invite you to Advances in Nanoengineering seminar, which will be held on October 27, 2026 at 13.15 in room 321, building A-1, where
Daniela Kujawa
from Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, PAS, Wrocław
will deliver a lecture titled:
Surface and interfacial engineering of carbon dots and their semiconductor hybrids for photocatalytic and sensing applications
The lecture abstract is attached below.
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Lecture abstract:This work presents a comprehensive study on tailoring the surface chemistry and interfacial engineering of carbon dots (CDs) and their hybrid semiconductor materials (CDs@TiO2 and CDs@ZnO) for enhanced photocatalytic performance and environmental sensing. By systematically investigating diverse chemical environments and precursors during hydrothermal and solvothermal synthesis of CDs, we demonstrate precise control over emission mechanisms, quantum yield—reaching over 80% in an aprotic DMF system—and excited-state dynamics. Advanced structural and spectroscopic analyses of these surface-engineered CDs, including XRD, TEM, FTIR, Raman, and UV-Vis measurements, revealed surface interactions and structural modifications that facilitate tunable optical properties. Furthermore, the synthesized CDs exhibited dual environmental sensitivity, showing continuous emission shifts across a broad pH range (1–14) and distinct responses to hydroxyl-rich organic solvents, making them promising candidates for advanced chemical sensors. In photocatalytic applications, strategic coupling of phosphorescent and fluorescent CDs with porous TiO2 and ZnO matrices enabled charge-carrier recombination to be suppressed in optimized systems and allowed selective control over oxidative and reductive pathways. Optimized hybrids demonstrated efficient photocatalytic H2O2 generation, enhanced production of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, and effective photodegradation of persistent organic pollutants, including carbamazepine and naproxen, with enhanced mineralization demonstrated for carbamazepine. These findings establish a versatile design platform for developing selective, high-performance hybrid photocatalysts and multifunctional optical sensors for targeted environmental and energy applications.
