Facile green synthesis of carbon quantum Dots/TiO2 composite using banana peel extracts.

The research of synthesis of titanium dioxide/carbon quantum dots (CQDots/TiO2) composite using a green method by utilizing banana peel extracts has been conducted. The nanocomposite CQDots/TiO2 was synthesized through a hydrothermal method of prepared CQDots and commercial TiO2. The hydrothermal method was chosen because it can efficiently synthesize CQD/TiO2 using low temperatures and high pressure, without emissions to the environment. Banana peels adopted as precursors for CQDots production exhibited excellent fluorescence properties, yielding green fluorescence results. Material characterization was performed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The CQDots/TiO2 was successfully synthesized, forming Ti–O–Ti and C–O bonds at a wavenumber of 646 cm−1 and 1070 cm−1, respectively. CQDots/TiO2 exhibited crystallinity in the form of TiO2 rutile phase and showed an irregular spherical surface morphology consisting of 47.73% Ti, 41.10% O, 8.94% C, and 2.23% others. Compared to the TiO2, the C content increased in the CQDots/TiO2 composite, indicating the presence of the CQDots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]