Construction of a solid-state fluorescent switching with carbon dots and diarylethene

A novel photo-controlled solid-state fluorescence switching based on carbon dots (CDs) and diarylethene was designed and constructed. It was characterized by TEM, XRD, XPS, and FT-IR. The polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was used to disperse the CDs and prevent its fluorescence quenching due to aggregation. The fluorescence switching not only had excellent modulation efficiency, but also exhibited good photochromic properties. Upon irradiation with UV light, the fluorescence modulation efficiency was determined to be 96.3%. The mechanism of the reversible fluorescence modulation was attributed to the FRET between the CDs (energy donor) and the closed-ring diarylethene (energy acceptor). This work suggests the strategy of constructing solid-state fluorescence switching is feasible, and will provide new ways for the potential application of CDs and diarylethene. A solid-state fluorescence switching was designed and constructed with carbon dots (CDs) and diarylethene, and the fluorescence switch is dispersed into PMMA films to achieve the solid-state fluorescence switching of CDs. [Display omitted] •A solid-state fluorescence switching based on carbon dots (CDs) and diarylethene was designed and constructed.•The reversible fluorescent switching behavior of the DT-CDs system was UV/vis lights controlled process based on the FRET.•The PMMA was used to disperse the CDs and inhibit its fluorescence quenching caused by its aggregation.