Transforming Human Hair Fibers Into Carbon Dots: Utilization in Flexible Films, Fingerprint Detection, Counterfeit Prevention and Fe3+ Detection

    December 2023 in “ Materials Today Sustainability ”
    Sandeep Dara, B.R. Radha Krushna, S.C. Sharma, Chandrasekaran Krithika, J. Inbanathan, Fr Augustine George, Dileep Francis, Nandini Robin Nadar, K. Lingaraju, H. Nagabhushana
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    TLDR Scientists made glow-in-the-dark dots from human hair that can detect iron, prevent counterfeiting, and reveal fingerprints.
    The study successfully synthesized blue-emitting carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from human hair using a microwave-assisted reflux method. These human hair-derived CQDs (HCQDs) have a spherical morphology with an average diameter of 3-5 nm and are adorned with functional groups, including oxygen, which enhances their water solubility and fluorescence. The HCQDs have a fluorescence quantum yield of 16%. The researchers used these HCQDs as a sensitive probe for Fe3+ detection, as a fluorescent ink for anti-counterfeiting applications, and for detecting latent fingerprints. The HCQDs showed excellent solubility and fluorescence properties, making them suitable for these applications.
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