Mini-Sized Carbon Nitride Nanosheets with Double Excitation- and pH-Dependent Fluorescence Behaviors for Two-Photon Cell Imaging

Abstract

Synthesis of mini-sized carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNSs) by traditional methods remains a challenge. Herein, size-tunable and uniform mini-sized CNNSs are synthesized by hydrothermal carbonization of a single polyethyleneimine (PEI) precursor. The as-obtained mini-sized CNNSs possess uniform size, good hydrophilicity and abundant nitrogen active sites, which not only exhibit double excitation- and pH-dependent fluorescence behaviors, but also two-photon excitation fluorescence. áThe resulting CNNSs display low toxicity and can be efficiently delivered into live cells for two-photon fluorescence imaging, offering great potential as fluorescence probes in biochemical applications.

Keywords: carbon nitride nanosheets; carbonization; fluorescence; nanostructures; polyethyleneimine.