As a new type of fluorescent nanomaterials, carbon dots (CDs) have exhibited excellent photoluminescence properties with tunable emission and high quantum yields, hence they have attracted an increasing interest in diverse research areas. The photoluminescence performance of CDs is primarily influenced by their precursors, which directly or indirectly determine the structures and specific functions of the resultant CDs. In this review, we aim to summarize the recent progress on synthesis of CDs using small aliphatic molecules, anilines, polyphenol, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic dyes, or biomass as precursors. The associations of the physical and chemical properties of the CDs with their respective precursors are comprehensively investigated, and the potential applications and future development of CDs are discussed in detail. It is hoped that this review will open new horizons for CDs preparation by rational selection of the precursors from the vastly available carbon sources and the critical comments presented, here could inspire and guide future research in the design of multifunctional CDs.

作为一种新型荧光纳米材料，碳点（CD）表现出优异的光致发光性能、可调谐发射和高量子产率，因此在各个研究领域引起了越来越多的兴趣。CD的光致发光性能主要受其前驱体的影响，前驱体直接或间接决定了所得CD的结构和特定功能。在这篇综述中，我们旨在总结使用脂肪族小分子、苯胺、多酚、多环芳烃、有机染料或生物质作为前体合成碳点的最新进展。全面研究了碳点的物理和化学性质与其各自前体的关联，并详细讨论了碳点的潜在应用和未来发展。