Lignocellulosic Biomass-Based Carbon Dots: Synthesis Processes, Properties, and Applications

Carbon dots (CDs), a new type of carbon-based fluorescent nanomaterial, have attracted widespread attention because of their numerous excellent properties. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant renewable natural resource and possesses broad potential to manufacture different composite and smart materials. Numerous studies have explored the potential of using the components (such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) in lignocellulosic biomass to produce CDs. There are few papers systemically aiming in the review of the state-of-the-art works related to lignocellulosic biomass-derived CDs. In this review, the significant advances in synthesis processes, formation mechanisms, structural characteristics, optical properties, and applications of lignocellulosic biomass-based CDs such as cellulose-based CDs, hemicellulose-based CDs and lignin-based CDs in latest research are reviewed. In addition, future research directions on the improvement of the synthesis technology of CDs using lignocellulosic biomass as raw materials to enhance the properties of CDs are proposed. This review will serve as a road map for scientists engaged in research and exploring more applications of CDs in different science fields to achieve the highest material performance goals of CDs.