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Carbon dots revolutionising polymer coatings: a review of recent advances
CCarbon dots (CDs), with their nanoscopic dimensions and multifunctional properties, are transforming polymer coatings by enhancing corrosion resistance, antibacterial activity, flame retardancy, and more.
Carbon dots (CDs), a cutting-edge zero-dimensional nanomaterial, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their transformative potential in polymer coatings. Thanks to their exceptional optical properties, low toxicity, and ease of functionalisation, CDs offer enhanced performance across diverse application areas.
This review, authored by Cuicui Zhao et al., provides a comprehensive analysis of CDs’ synthesis methods, surface modification techniques, and their integration into polymer coatings. The paper highlights the multifaceted benefits of CDs as nanofillers, detailing their contributions to corrosion resistance, mechanical strengthening, antibacterial activity, fluorescence, flame retardancy, and biocompatibility.
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Exploring mechanisms and future challenges
The authors delve into the mechanisms underpinning these enhancements, attributing CDs’ effectiveness to their robust thermal stability and unique surface functionalisation capabilities. Despite their promising applications, the review also addresses challenges such as scalability, cost-efficiency, and environmental impacts, emphasising the need for further research to realise CDs’ full potential in industrial coatings.
This forward-looking analysis positions CDs as a key innovation in functional coatings, with prospects spanning sectors like healthcare, automotive, and marine industries.
Source: Zhao, C., Tian, Y., Li, C. & Sheng, X., Recent advances in the use of carbon dots in polymer coatings: a prospective review. Nanoscale Research, 2026.
