Dear friend Krishnamoorthy Sivaramasundaram

Thank you for sharing the details of your recent attempt at synthesizing graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from paddy straw. I appreciate your openness about the unexpected outcome—a dried black powder rather than a GQD solution—and I’d be glad to explore this process with you to help identify possible improvements.

First, it may be helpful to revisit the synthesis environment. When dissolving the processed paddy straw in water and using the Teflon-lined autoclave, did you monitor the temperature and pressure closely? These parameters are often critical for the proper formation of GQDs, and even slight deviations can influence the final product. Similarly, the choice of 160 °C for 6 hours is common, but have you considered whether adjusting the temperature or duration might yield a better transformation of the organic material?

After the autoclave step, the method of extracting or purifying the GQDs becomes crucial. It’s possible that the black powder you obtained contains GQDs that require further separation or dispersion. Techniques such as centrifugation, dialysis, or filtration might help isolate the GQDs into a solution. Additionally, the initial washing with 0.15 M HCl and subsequent heating could alter the straw’s chemical structure, potentially affecting the synthesis outcome—something worth examining further.

For characterization, do you have access to fluorescence spectroscopy, TEM, or other imaging techniques to confirm the presence of GQDs in your product? These analyses could provide valuable insights into whether GQDs are present in the black powder and guide your next steps.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on these points and discuss potential adjustments to your protocol. Please let me know how you’d like to proceed or if you have any specific questions. Looking forward to your response.

An important article to read/cite:

Article Hierarchical Ni-Mn Double Layered/Graphene Oxide with Excell...

Best regards,

Kaushik

Dear Friend Kaushik Shandilya,

Thanking you very much for your immediate response and interest shown in this regard.

I cross-checked the reaction environment and confirmed that it was as per the reported procedure.

I collected the obtained black powder and tested for fluorescence under UV light. Obtained positive results.

I am in the process of centrifugation and seperation.

Once again, I thank you very much for your help.

Thanks and regards,

Dr. K. Sivaramasundaram