Low temperature synthesis of phosphorous and nitrogen co-doped yellow fluorescent carbon dots for sensing and bioimaging

A simple and high-output strategy for the fabrication of yellow fluorescent phosphorous and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots (P,N-CDs) is developed. P,N-CDs possess distinctive photoluminescence properties, low toxicity, and biocompatible. P,N-CDs are potentially useful for versatile applications such as pH sensing, in vitro and in vivo imaging.