Carbon nanodot-polyacrylic acid composite hydrogel, and method for preparing and formulation for forming the same

A method for preparing a carbon nanodot-polyacrylic acid composite hydrogel, comprising:

• mixing a plurality of fluorescent carbon nanodots having positively charged amino groups on surfaces thereof with acrylic acid and an initiator so as to form a hydrogel-forming mixture;
• and
• subjecting the hydrogel-forming mixture to a polymerization reaction,
• wherein the fluorescent carbon nanodots are formed by subjecting polyethylenimine and hydrochloric acid to a hydrothermal reaction.

A formulation for forming a carbon nanodot-polyacrylic acid composite hydrogel, comprising:

• a plurality of fluorescent carbon nanodots having positively charged amino groups on surfaces thereof;
• acrylic acid;
• and
• an initiator,
• wherein the fluorescent carbon nanodots are formed by subjecting polyethylenimine and hydrochloric acid to a hydrothermal reaction.