Enhancement in the fluorescence of graphene quantum dots by hydrazine hydrate reduction

A simple and effective chemical method was reported to enhance the fluorescence of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Specifically, water-soluble GQDs, prepared by solvothermal synthesis from graphene oxide, are chemically reduced by hydrazine hydrate to produce reduced GQDs (rGQDs). The results show that the hydrazine hydrate reduction not only decreases the O/C atomic ratio of GQDs, also changes the bonding type of N atoms. Such surface/edge chemical bond change of GQDs results in that as-made rGQDs exhibit more than two times fluorescence intensity as strong as that of the pristine GQDs.