Thermochromic Afterglow from Carbon Dots

Abstract

Thermochromic afterglow (TCAG) carbon dots (CDs) are an emerging class of smart luminescent materials that combine persistent emission with temperature-dependent color variation, attracting increasing attention for applications in visual thermometry, thermal warning, information encryption, and anticounterfeiting. Compared with conventional rare-earth-based persistent phosphors and purely organic afterglow materials, CDs offer several notable advantages, including low cost, facile synthesis, excellent photostability, and tunable surface chemistry. With continuous advances in afterglow performance and thermal responsiveness, TCAG CDs have rapidly evolved into an important research direction within the field of intelligent luminescent materials. However, a comprehensive review dedicated specifically to this emerging area is still lacking. In this review, we systematically summarize the historical development, luminescence mechanisms, synthetic strategies, and emerging applications of TCAG CDs. Particular attention is given to their applications in temperature sensing, information encryption, and anti-counterfeiting. By integrating recent advances in material design and emission regulation, this review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding TCAG CDs and offers perspectives for their future development.

Keywords

Carbon dot / Thermochromic afterglow / Room-temperature phosphorescence / Thermally activated delayed fluorescence

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