In the present work we have synthesized fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) through solvothermal
treatment of Buchnania lanzan leaves extract at 160 °C for 4h in oven. Here, Buchnania lanzan
leaves serve as a renewable source of carbon. The obtained blackish-brown CDs solution was
centrifuged and the supernatant was filtered through syringe filter (0.22 µm). Further, the CDs
solution was dried in vacuum oven to obtain powder. The synthesized CDs were characterized
by different techniques including UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, fourier
transform infrared (FTIR), zeta potential, x-ray diffraction (XRD). The as prepared CDs
solution was found brownish colored in day light while exhibited green fluorescence under UV
light. UV-Vis absorption spectrum displayed a characteristic peak of CDs at 268 nm and a
shoulder peak at 365 nm. In the fluorescence spectra, excitation dependent emission behaviour
of CDs was seen, which is one of the distinct characteristic of CDs. The negative zeta
potential and characteristic peaks in FTIR, suggested presence of carboxyl functional group on
the CDs surface. XRD spectrum exhibited broad peaks suggesting amorphous nature of CDs
similar as reported in earlier works. As we have synthesized carboxyl group surface
functionalized carbon nanoparticles from a renewable and abundant precursor, this method can
be highly useful in synthesis of large quantity of carbon dots with reduced cost and will find
potential applications in the field of targeted drug delivery, bioimaging, etc.