# From Photoluminescence Optimization to Green LED Fabrication: The Role of Molar Precursor Ratio in Carbon Dots

**Authors:** Danilo Trapani, Filippo Saiano, Simona Boninelli, Sajeel Khan, Isodiana Crupi, Roberto Macaluso, Mauro Mosca

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/ma19040687 · Materials · 2026-02-11

## TL;DR

This paper shows how adjusting the molar ratio of precursors during carbon dot synthesis improves their green light emission and enables efficient green LEDs.

## Contribution

The study establishes a direct link between precursor ratio engineering and green LED fabrication using carbon dots.

## Key findings

- Optimized molar precursor ratios enhance photoluminescence efficiency and suppress solid-state quenching in green carbon dots.
- Green carbon dots with improved optical properties are successfully integrated into LEDs for efficient green emission.
- Precursor ratio engineering provides a reproducible pathway from material synthesis to device fabrication.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Molar precursor ratio critically governs carbon dot photoluminescence efficiency.Optimized ratios suppress solid-state quenching in green-emitting carbon dots.Green carbon dots are successfully integrated as color-conversion layers in Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

Molar precursor ratio critically governs carbon dot photoluminescence efficiency.

Optimized ratios suppress solid-state quenching in green-emitting carbon dots.

Green carbon dots are successfully integrated as color-conversion layers in Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

What are the implications of the main findings?
Precursor ratio engineering enables reproducible, high-efficiency green emitters.Optimized carbon dots allow efficient solid-state color-conversion LED fabrication.The study links carbon dot synthesis directly to green LED device realization.

Precursor ratio engineering enables reproducible, high-efficiency green emitters.

Optimized carbon dots allow efficient solid-state color-conversion LED fabrication.

The study links carbon dot synthesis directly to green LED device realization.

Carbon dots have emerged as promising luminescent materials for solid-state lighting and color-conversion applications; however, their photoluminescence efficiency in the solid state is often limited by aggregation-induced quenching phenomena. In this work, we systematically investigate the role of the molar precursor ratio on the optical properties of green-emitting carbon dots, with the aim of establishing a direct link between synthesis parameters, photoluminescence optimization, and device-level performance. By carefully tuning the precursor ratio during synthesis, a significant enhancement of photoluminescence intensity and a strong suppression of solid-state quenching are achieved while preserving spectral stability in the green region. The optimized carbon dots exhibit improved radiative recombination and favorable optical characteristics for solid-state integration. Building on these results, the carbon dots are successfully employed as color-conversion layers in the fabrication of green light-emitting diodes, demonstrating efficient green emission under electrical excitation. This study highlights precursor ratio engineering as a simple and effective strategy to tailor carbon dot photoluminescence and provides a clear pathway from materials optimization to the realization of green color-conversion LED devices.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** injury to (MESH:D014947), CDs (MESH:D000080363), CD (MESH:D003424), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420)
- **Chemicals:** N (MESH:D009584), C (MESH:D002244), lead selenide (MESH:C088065), cyanuric acid (MESH:C004632), O (MESH:D010100), steel (MESH:D013232), ascorbic acid (MESH:D001205), 13C (MESH:C000615229), cerium (MESH:D002563), ethanol (MESH:D000431), Polymethyl methacrylate (MESH:D019904), indium arsenide (MESH:C076773), water (MESH:D014867), triazine (MESH:D014227), cadmium telluride (MESH:C028337), urea (MESH:D014508), cadmium sulfide (MESH:C034939), Carbonization (-), europium (MESH:D005063), sodium citrate (MESH:D000077559), hydrogen (MESH:D006859), yttrium (MESH:D015019), ytterbium (MESH:D015018), glucosamine (MESH:D005944), lead sulfide (MESH:C018391), C6H8O7 (MESH:D019343), erbium (MESH:D004871), U (MESH:D014501), cadmium selenide (MESH:C058667)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

11 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942580/full.md

## References

65 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942580/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942580