Effective UV and blue light blocking filters with high visible transparency utilizing graphene quantum dots

Abstract

In the current technological era, our eyes suffer serious diseases as a consequence of exposure to ultraviolet and blue radiation from light-emitting devices. Accordingly, the development of materials with effective absorption abilities for UV and blue light is in high demand. Here, we report the synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from Moringa oleifera leaves utilizing the hydrothermal technique. Different amounts from the prepared GQDs solution were added to the Poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) to fabricate UV and blue light-blocking films with concentrations of (0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 %). These films were examined to explore their blocking potential. Interestingly, the data demonstrate that GQDs/PVA films can block up to 97.68 % and 96.21 % of harmful UV and blue light, respectively, with transmittance greater than 70 % in the visible regions (>600 nm). Further, the films were applied to WLED commercial lamps, and it was found that with increasing GQD concentrations, the blue region decreased with a blocking ratio of up to 91.38 %, and the LED light was changed from cool (6310 K) to warm (3300 K) white LEDs. These results prove that the sustainably fabricated GQDs films have strong down photoconversion ability and remarkable absorption in the UV and blue light regions.