From Waste Polypropylene to Carbon Dots

This study presents the successful synthesis of carbon dots (C-Dots) from polypropylene (PP) from a two-step method. PP waste from food packaging was converted into C-Dots through a thermal process followed by a solvothermal approach. Thermal analysis of PP waste provided insights into its stability, decomposition, and phase transitions, optimizing its use as the precursor for C-Dots synthesis and impurity identification. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups in the PP-derived C-Dots, highlighting the successful conversion of polymeric waste into a high-value material. The formation of C-Dots nanoparticles was further confirmed via transmission electron microscopy analysis. The particles were characterized by an average size of 43 nm and a standard deviation (SD) of 17 nm. Additionally, the combination of strong UV absorption and a narrow band gap absorption highlights the unique electronic properties of these C-Dots, making them suitable and sustainable candidates for applications such as bioimaging, energy conversion, and sensing.