UV-curable hybrid hydrogels of carbon quantum dots: synthesis, characterizations and investigation of properties and rheological behavior

In this study, we are going to produce UV-curable hydrogel hybrids with carbon quantum dots. For this purpose, after synthesizing CQDs, they were reacted with acrylic acid to establish covalent bonds and create a C = C bond on the surface of CQDs. Then acrylamide hydrogel was synthesized. In the next step, 1, 3 and 5% UV-curable hydrogel hybrids were prepared. The experimental results displayed that increasing the amount of CQDs in the hydrogel increased photoluminescence intensity and water adsorption while boosting the hydrogel's thermal stability. Besides, increasing the CQDs amount reduces the hydrogel elasticity.